State revising "Standards of Quality" - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

The Virginia Department of Education is revising the state's "Standards of Quality" for the public school system. These standards determine everything from class size to how many teachers are in a school. There are only four public hearings on this issue and one will be at Meadowbrook High in Chesterfield.

It will be an opportunity for the community to tell the Board of Education how the state should fund local public schools.

"If parents want well-funded schools it's important they attend," said Frank Cardella, President of the Chesterfield Education Association.

Every two years, the Board of Education revises Virginia state code to reflect how the school system should be funded and what requirements should be met.

What's probably most important is the "Standards of Quality" drive 80% of state funding.

"We think small classrooms are very important," said Cardella. "So we would like to see class sizes reduced and the state providing more funding for more teachers in every school."

Some of the revisions under consideration: making it mandatory for every elementary school to have a full-time principal and require a "reading specialist" for every 1,000 students.

However, it's up to state lawmakers to approve these recommendations and decide how much money local schools will get.

The general assembly will vote on these revisions during their 2013 legislation session.

The public hearing begins Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Meadowbrook High School. The school is located at 4901 Cogbill Road, near Iron Bridge Road, in Chesterfield. All members of the public are welcome to attend.

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