Virginia to propose ways to improve on 'no child' standards

Virginia students who are struggling the most could get first crack at changing schools or receiving tutoring if the U.S. Department of Education selects the state's proposal.

Ten states will be chosen to pilot ideas to treat chronically underperforming schools differently than they treat other schools.

Virginia's idea, which will be presented today to the state Board of Education, would allow schools to first target students who are struggling on a test and those from low-income families.

Under the No Child Left Behind law, schools must show that their students are improving on state tests each year or face sanctions. Schools that fail to meet benchmarks have to allow students to transfer to other schools or offer tutoring in the first two years.

Virginia's proposal would give first priority to academically struggling and low-income students in the group and subject for which the school fell short - for example, special education students in math. Second priority would go to students who are struggling academically or come from poor families but who are not part of the testing group that fell behind.

The rest of the school's students would be offered services last.

The rationale is that the students who need help the most may not always get it because of limited funds. Also, the children who change schools often are not those who are struggling academically or from low-income families.

Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com