A multiple-choice test on school grades
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Gov. Bob McDonnell has yet to explain the goal behind his proposal to give each public school a letter grade.
Perhaps Gov. Bob McDonnell will make clear in the days ahead just how letter grades are to improve Virginia’s public schools.
So far, his proposal sounds like a gimmick to create the illusion of forward movement, while all the time the commonwealth is, at best, walking in place. Perhaps losing ground as state support falls away.
January 14, 2013 - 6:27 AM
“Gimmick” pretty much describes almost all of Gov. Bob (Better than the Second Coming) McDonnell’s plans. The grade for a school is pretty meaningless when parents don’t have much choice in the school a child attends — unless Guv Bob and his Republican buddies are able to push through legislation to support vouchers and charter schools. Then those with the cash can send their little darlings to these private schools (at taxpayer expense) to avoid those schools with low grades. Those who can’t afford private school will be pretty much stuck with the school in their neighborhood.
Your voucher to a profit run charter school doesn’t mean that this school is any better. It is just a way for Gov.Bobbie McD.to take money and put it into his transportation plan. He is already tapping the General Fund that is suppose to be for healthcare and education. He wants great schools with less funding but all the have to do’s or else. This is a back door scheme to help his lobbyists with more profit run Charter schools that grab the skin off the bones of public education. This is outrageous and very obvious. Virginia is the 4th best educational system in the country. The mess is these SOL tests that do nothing but punish schools with multiple-choice questions mindless data. Our kids cannot retain short term junk! You need to learn information. Parents can opt-out on these tests. They do not keep students out of college. Richmond’s Grade is an “F” in my books. Their are a sad bunch.