Schools
Alexandria School to See State Intervention Process Begin July 1
The Opportunity Educational Institution, designed to improve the commonwealth's chronically failing schools, takes effect Monday.
The Opportunity Educational Institution proposed by Gov. Bob McDonnell and designed to improve schools designated as “chronically failing,” such as Jefferson-Houston School, takes effect July 1.
The institution will be a new statewide school division to turnaround failing schools, according to McDonnell, who said earlier this year that the model has proven successful in Louisiana and Tennessee.
Alexandria's School Board has criticized the move, saying it bypasses local involvement among other things.
Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Del. Rob Krupicka, who represents Del Ray and Old Town in the state legislature, has said he agrees that Virginia schools should not be allowed to continue to fail, but sees the legislation as problematic.
In his blog, Krupicka said some of the OEI’s largest failings are with its “disregard for the Department of Education and Board of Education as well as local governing bodies and parents.”
Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Do you think state intervention is the solution for improvement at Jefferson-Houston? Let us know in the comments.
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