Education plans advance in House, panel votes

RICHMOND

The House has set the stage to pass all three of Gov. Bob McDonnell's education measures.

In a 60-35 vote, the full House gave preliminary approval to a measure aimed at encouraging more charter schools to open in Virginia. HB1390 would give the Virginia Board of Education a broader role in the approval of a charter school. The board would give technical advice and review charter-school applications before they go to the local school boards for approval.

McDonnell's plan to revive laboratory schools at public colleges and universities, HB1389, passed both a House education and money committee on Wednesday. The lab schools would be public schools, where students in university teaching programs could test out new educational methods for K-12 instruction.

Under McDonnell's plan, the schools would be public. But there's no funding in the budget for these lab schools, causing some concerns among delegates.

Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, was one of the five legislators who voted against the measure in the appropriations committee. Jones said he supports the concept, but the legislation creates a fund, and lab school supporters eventually would expect the General Assembly to put money into the program.

The House Education Committee also approved HB1388, to encourage more virtual schools. The legislation would allow the state Board of Education to develop guidelines for approving and monitoring online providers.

State Superintendent Patricia Wright said the legislation would allow state officials to ensure quality programs and keep track of who is taking classes. Virtual schools already exist but there hasn't been much review, state education experts said.

The Senate Education Committee is to consider the bills today.