VA Gov McDonnell Unveils Opportunity to Learn Education Agenda for 2012

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell unveiled his 2012 legislative and budget actions that support his administration's ongoing Opportunity to Learn K-12 education agenda. The governor's proposed budget also includes $438 million in new K-12 funding over the next biennium. The 2012 Opportunity to Learn agenda includes proposals in several areas: Streamlined diploma requirements — to consolidate the number of high school diplomas from seven to three more rigorous and meaningful requirements; A more rigorous standard diploma — to require career and technical education credentials and/or a state licensure examination, national occupational competency assessment or the Virginia workplace readiness skills assessment ($308,655 in funding); A dual enrollment agreement — to establish pathways for students to complete an associate's degree or a one-year certificate of general studies from the Virginia Community College system concurrent with a high school diploma; and, An Innovative Options Technical Advisory Committee — to provide guidance to potential applicants during the planning process for charter schools, college partnership laboratory schools and virtual school programs ($201,624 in funding). It also includes funding proposals that will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives: Provide $80,000 in funding for the Health Sciences academies to provide planning and first year startup funding in FY13; Fund a request for proposals to develop an elementary education preK-6 approved program with a major in mathematics, sciences or integrated sciences and mathematics; Fund a request for proposals to develop middle/secondary approved programs focusing on the preparation of mathematics and science teachers; and, Provide $600,000 in funding for incentive awards for teachers in STEM areas. Eligible new teacher in a STEM subject area is eligible to receive a $5,000 incentive award after the completion of the first year of teaching with a satisfactory performance evaluation. An additional $1,000 incentive award may be granted for each year the eligible teacher receives a satisfactory evaluation (maximum incentive award is $8,000).