Gov. Warner unveils education reform plan at VCU School of Education

By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

More than 100 educators, school administrators and politicians gathered at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education for the kickoff of Gov. Mark R. Warner's "Education for a Lifetime" initiative. The package of reforms is aimed at insuring fiscal accountability of Virginia's K-12 and higher education system, and better preparing students to find jobs in a changing economy.

VCU was the first of several stops across the state where Warner announced that his proposed budget for the next biennium will include $525 to fully fund Virginia's Standards of Quality (SOQ) for public schools and begin the process of funding SOQ revisions.

"We understand that our destiny is tied to K-12 education," said Roderick J. McDavis, Ph.D., VCU provost and vice president for academic affairs. "With Gov. Warner's vision we are destined to improving the quality of education for K-12 students.

The governor's reforms also provide incentives for colleges to graduate more students and increase the amount of cutting-edge research conducted at public universities and colleges to $1 billion by the year 2010. "Higher education in Virginia must remain the envy of other states, but it will not without renewed commitment," said Warner. "At the same time, we'll be asking more of our institutions. We'll ask them to teach even more of our people in order to fuel economic growth and a better quality of life in Virginia."

Another feature of the plan allows rising high school seniors to earn a semester's worth of college credit by the end of their senior year. "We'll utilize our four-year colleges, community colleges, distance learning and traditional placement programs to earn these credits," Warner said. "Earning these credits won't be easy. But if they do, students can get a big jump on college and save thousands of dollars in tuition costs."

Warner also wants to improve teacher recruitment and retention, eliminate overlapping and redundant workforce training programs, conduct efficiency reviews in individual school divisions, and strengthen early childhood education and child care programs.

"We're honored that the Governor chose the School of Education for the announcement of his education agenda," said William C. Bosher, Ph.D., dean of VCU's School of Education. Bosher served as state superintendent for public instruction under former Gov. George F. Allen and helped to bring together diverse education groups to begin drafting the SOQs. "While stressing the importance of sustaining the state's support of funding for K-12 and higher education, the Governor gave a compelling challenge to those of us serving the K-16 continuum to work together and use our resources wisely."

Warner will present his initiatives to the General Assembly in January and some political analysts think many of his ideas are likely to have strong support among Republicans and Democrats. "The Assembly will want to put its own twist on some of the issues the Governor raised, but is likely to continue the support it demonstrated last session for K-12 education," said Robert L. Holsworth, Ph.D., director of the VCU Center for Public Policy.

Photos by Jennifer Watson, VCU Creative Services