 |
Articles of Interest
|
State & Local Policy
School board member hopes to begin STEM academy
The Progress-Index
July 26, 2015
School Board member Krishan Agrawal hopes that the board will approve the creation of a science technology and engineering academy to ensure that students can compete for jobs after graduation.
If a STEM academy is made available to students, it will be added to a list of 23 Governor’s STEM academies across the state. The Virginia Department of Education approved programs offer vocational and academic training outside of standard curriculum and hold high academic standards for students in the academies.
VA. Advisory Panel Discuss Issues Facing Higher Education
NBC29 - WVIR
July 23, 2015
A Richmond area lawmaker says Virginia's colleges and universities won't get as much funding from the state if they can't prove they are spending money wisely.
72nd Delegate James Massie (R) says he is concerned for students and families taking on lots of debt.
"We are not going to be allocating significant dollars either on an operating basis or a capital basis to institutions that cannot convince us and prove to us that they are running their current operations as efficiency as possible - and they're going to have to document that," Del. Massie said.
The delegate’s comment comes as a higher education advisory panel met in Richmond Thursday afternoon.
Virginia Dept. of Education redesigns school evaluations
Ch10 - WAVY
July 24, 2015
What information would you want about your child’s school to see if teachers and school administrators are doing a good job? The Virginia Department of Education is working on a new plan for evaluating schools, and they want to hear from parents, guardians and other concerned community members about what matters most to you.
This year, the General Assembly agreed to let the Virginia Department of Education drop their much-contested A through F grading system for schools. Now the State Board of Education has to come out with a redesigned report card to replace it by October 2016.
National Policy
Fact Sheet: Focusing Higher Education on Student Success
U.S. Dept. of Education
July 27, 2015
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today laid out his vision for America’s higher education system of the future. Duncan noted that while more students are graduating college than ever before at our nation’s world-class colleges and universities, for far too many students, the nation’s higher education system isn’t delivering what they need and deserve. America’s students and families need, and the nation’s economic strength will depend on, a higher education system that helps all students succeed. That starts with making college more affordable but goes much further – to focus on whether students are actually graduating in a timely way with a meaningful degree that sets them up for future success.
Today, nearly half of all students who begin college do not graduate within six years, and the consequences of taking on debt but never receiving a meaningful degree can be severe. Students who borrow for college but never graduate are three times more likely to default. A stronger focus on outcomes for students means change for everyone – schools, students, states, accreditors, and the federal government.
Teacher Prep Programs: Education Should Ensure States Indentify Low Performing Programs
Govt. Accountability Office
July 23, 2015
What GAO Found
State oversight officials reported that they approve teacher preparation programs (TPP) by assessing the quality of program design and analyzing candidate data such as program graduation rates, according to GAO’s 2014-2015 survey of states and the District of Columbia. However, some states reported that they do not assess whether TPPs are low-performing, as required by federal law. To receive funding under the Higher Education Act, states are required to conduct an assessment to identify TPPs that are low-performing. Seven states reported to GAO that they do not have a process to do so.
NC Supreme Court upholds public money for private tuition
Charlotte Observer
July 23, 2015
The N.C. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state can continue awarding publicly funded vouchers to send low-income students to private schools.
The ruling overturned constitutional challenges to the Opportunity Scholarship program filed by the North Carolina Association of Educators and the North Carolina School Boards Association. Several local school boards also joined the challenge.
The scholarships pay up to $4,200 a year for children whose families meet income guidelines to switch from public to private schools.
Kansas City Star
July 23, 2015
Missouri educators say they won’t let language inserted in an appropriations bill prevent them from awarding A+ scholarships to qualified students.
In a memo sent Thursday to college presidents, chancellors and directors, Missouri Department of Higher Education Commissioner David Russell said language in the title or preamble of a recently passed higher education appropriations bill “has no legal authority to withhold scholarship awards from otherwise eligible students.”
He said the commission reviewed House Bill 3 and determined that it did not prohibit undocumented immigrant students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status from receiving scholarships paid for with state dollars or from being offered in-state tuition rates.
Ohio’s rural schools are online leaders on state tests
Columbus Dispatch
July 23, 2015
Ohio students could take state tests online for the first time last school year, and many of them did.
A state survey found that 71 percent of more than 600 school districts administered both online and paper/pencil state tests. Only 17 percent of districts had students complete all tests online, while 12 percent offered only paper exams.
State officials were surprised by the number of rural schools that tested all their students online: 24 percent of 231 districts, the largest rate among any category of districts.
|
|
Is average pay for teachers in Virginia growing or shrinking?
Though teachers aren't required to report back to school yet, the budget year for teacher contracts started at the beginning of July. We thought this week might be a good week to take a look at teacher pay in the Commonwealth using figures compiled by the Department of Education based on local system reports.
But first, a quick review of where Virginia ranks among other states. Below is a map showing average salary for teachers by state, based on 2013 figures (that year Virginia was 31st among the states - map compiled by Higher Ed Data Stories blog.)
While the average salary by state shows Virginia teachers trailing many other states in the mid-Atlantic region, Bureau of Labor Statistics visualization of elementary ed teacher's average wage by Metropolitian Statistical Area (MSA) provides a different picture of where teacher wages are highest and lowest. Both state and metropolitan forces are clearly in play based on this map with major metro areas often paying more, though areas of some states (like Wyoming and upstate New York) are paying more without major urban areas driving the numbers.
In reviewing the 2014-2015 salary report from the Virginia Department of Education, we found that from 2014 to 2015 (budgeted), average pay for teachers in 81 school districts increased while average pay for teachers decreased in 50 school districts. This made 2014-15 a slightly worse year for teachers, compared to 2013-14 when the average salary increased in 90 school districts. (It's worth noting that average salary could move in a different direction than overall raises if, for instance, a large cohort retired in one year, replacing higher salaries for highly experienced teachers with lower starting salaries.)
Fifty districts saw an increase in average salary for teachers both years while 71 districts saw an increase in one year or the other. Only 10 districts saw the average salary for teachers decline in both years (Counties of Alleghany, Henrico, Richmond, Scott, Spotsylvania and Warren; Cities of Buena Vista, Colonial Heights, Martinsville and Poquoson).
The average salary for all school divisions was $54,521 but the median (half districts above and half below) corresponded with Waynesboro Public Schools' average salary of $47,785.
The answer, then, is that average salaries for teachers in Virginia have been inching upwards in most, but not all, districts.
Our Poll Snapshot this week looks at information from our 2015 poll on whether people think funding affects the quality of education. Read below for more detail.
We also introduce a new section, excerpting articles from July about candidates for the 2015 General Assembly elections where they refer to their priorities for education. While not an exhaustive list, it provides an interesting window into how education is being talked about by those who will make key decisions in the coming General Assembly session. We hope you enjoy it!
Sincerely,
CEPI
|
Poll Snapshot: Funding and Quality
Of course teacher pay is a major element of total spending on schools and the argument is often made that increasing teacher pay would increase teacher quality as higher pay attracts talented people to the profession. This year we asked respondents to our poll whether they thought funding affected the quality of education "A great deal," "Quite a lot," "Not too much," or "Not at all."
The chart below summarizes the responses:
 |
|
Virginians, in general, see the amount of funding dedicated to public schools as affecting quality. More than three-quarters of respondents (78%) said that the amount of funding affects quality a great deal or quite a lot, which is similar to responses in prior years.
Here a direct connection to public schools seems to make a difference in perceptions of the importance of funding. School employees/retirees (60%) and parents of public school students (59%) were more likely to say funding mattered a great deal when compared to non-employee/retiree (50%) and non-parent respondents (49%). Likewise, 58% of minorities said funding mattered a great deal compared to 48% of whites. Age also played a role – sixty-six percent (66%) of those aged 35-44 said funding mattered a great deal while those aged 18-34 (55%), 45-64 (46%) and 65+ (45%) were less likely to say the same.
To read the full results of the poll, visit our website. Question 1 is cited above - topline results are on page 24 with demographic breakdowns on page 32 of the 2014-2015 poll.
|
Education and the 2015 Election
As we get closer to the 2015 General Assembly elections, once a month we'll be compiling excerpts of stories and op eds that report on and/or feature the voices of General Assembly candidates and that connect to their views on, or experience with, the education sector. CEPI does not endorse candidates and provides this compilation as a public service.
NEWS STORIES
Gallaway focused on education in state senate bid
Star Exponent
July 25, 2015
Ned Gallaway is laser focused on education in his bid for the District 17 state senate seat.
"Education is the No. 1 issue of why I'm running," he said in a recent sit-down interview with the Star-Exponent. "I wanted to make sure it remained a top focus during this race. When you see first-hand what a lack of state funding can do to a division and to spend two years criticizing the state's lack of funding it was time go, OK, well I can keep just criticizing it or I can step up and try to go do something about it."
Chairman of the Albemarle County School Board, Gallaway mentioned the importance of education at least two dozen times.
Bagby easily wins special election for Morrissey's former seat
Richmond Times-Dispatch
July 21, 2015
Lamont Bagby, a member of the Henrico County School Board, on Tuesday easily defeated independent David M. Lambert in a special election for a seat in the House of Delegates.
Bagby won the right to finish the term of former Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, which expires in January.
Bagby, elected on a strong vote in Henrico, said he will step down from the county school board within 48 hours. Virginia office holders may not hold two elective offices simultaneously.
Candidates emerge for General Assembly seats
The News and Advance
July 18, 2015
Of 11 General Assembly seats touching the Lynchburg area, three have competitive races in a year in which the entire state legislature is up for election.
The race most affecting the Lynchburg area is the 24th House District, which includes most of Amherst County. In that race, Republican Del. Ben Cline is challenged by Democrat Ellen Arthur.
Cline wants to focus on developing the district’s economy, while Arthur talked about a range of economic, environmental, social issues.
Cline, a Lexington lawyer, has served seven terms as delegate since a special election in 2002. Cline touted saving Amherst County’s Central Virginia Community College branch, helping in the effort to save Sweet Briar College and getting Riveredge Park created across the river from Lynchburg as achievements in his public career.
Cline said he wants to work with local employers to create jobs through workforce training, such as programs for high school students and others at CVCC.
“Education helps improve local economies, standards of living and job prospects, so the more we can focus on education, the more we can deliver for our communities, and that’s something that’s been a focus of mine for my time in the House of Delegates, and I hope to continue that work,” Cline said.
OPINION
Letter: Sara Townsend is the right choise for 31st District
Jane Touchet
Inside NoVa.com - July 27, 2015
Residents of the 31st House District, which includes parts of Dumfries, Dale City, Woodbridge and Triangle in Prince William County, and Catlett, Calverton and Casanova in southern Fauquier County, have an opportunity this year to elect an educator to the House of Delegates.
Since only eight of our current delegates have a teaching background, the election of Sara Townsend would provide the much-needed addition of someone who has teaching experience and an interest in education policy.
Sara Townsend, a resident of Fauquier County, is a former teacher who is currently pursuing a PhD in education policy at George Mason University. One of her strong motivations to challenge Del. Scott Lingamfelter for this seat is her desire to speak up for students, teachers and parents in the decision-making body of Virginia.
Her opponent has proven again and again that he is no friend of public education. . . .
Education policy based on results, not rhetoric
Del. Scott Lingamfelter
Potomac Local - July 26, 2015
Ms. Touchet, a partisan Democrat who doesn’t reside in the district that I serve, says “Mr. Lingamfelter has proven again and again that he is no friend of public education”. Really? Let’s review the facts.
My wife Shelley has taught in public schools since 1974. She and I educated all three of our children in public schools in Prince William. Both Shelley and I routinely volunteered for school activities and gave our time and resources to help in any way we could.
Shelley, who just retired from the Prince William County Schools system, has always been my best advisor on education matters. I listen to her and, as the second most senior member of the House Education Committee; I have always been an advocate for our teachers.
Let’s review some facts. Ms Touchet claims that I “cut millions” from public education. But consider this. According to Appropriations Committee data, from 2002 through the current fiscal year, General Fund spending for K-12 increased by about $1.7 billion, or 43%. . . .
|
|
