The session’s starts tomorrow, but it felt like it started
today as the Senate Finance Education Subcommittee met for the first time this session. Jamie Bitz, Joint Legislative Audit and
Review Commission (JLARC) Chief Legislative Analyst, presented an overview of the JLARC study, “Low Performing Schools in Urban High Poverty Communities.”
Incredibly, given all the information in the report, the
reaction of the committee focused on “removing ineffective teachers.” My welcome back to the General Assembly was
hearing the Subcommittee Chairman, Senator Tommy Norment, asked if we could
revisit Governor McDonnell’s efforts to “get the deadwood out.”
Senate Finance Committee staff members Sarah Herzog and
April Kees overviewed the Governor’s proposed amendments to the 2014-16 BiennialBudget (SB 800) for “K-12 Education, Other Education, and Higher EducationAgencies.”
Yesterday’s Richmond Times-Dispatch, and I assume other
papers across Virginia, featured a most welcomed PolitiFact Virginia: “Teachers’ group says Va.’s school funding16% below inflation since 2009.” With
the excellent assistance of Carol Donohue, we work very hard to make sure that
the statistical information placed on this blog is accurate. It is very good to know that the press reads this
blog, and it is great to have the content validated. I urge you to share this piece widely.
