Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 13, 1990 TAG: 9004130153
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARGIE FISHER RICHMOND BUREAU
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
"Some have counseled that this issue is simply one of money and that we must look to the courts to devise a financial remedy for educational disparity," said Secretary of Education James Dyke in a speech to the new Commission on Educational Opportunity for All Virginians.
Dyke said the disparity problem is rooted in educational programs, not finances. "Money is part of the solution. But only after we have addressed programmatic disparity," Dyke said.
Some citizens in Southwest Virginia and elsewhere are discussing a possible lawsuit because they say their children aren't receiving equal educational opportunity as required by the state constitution. Dyke made a strong plea for those people to back off and "give this commission a chance to do its work."
"The only people who gain from a court review are lawyers and those who serve as legal consultants," he said. "The people most involved with education - students, educators and local officials - are left in limbo while the courts review the issues. Once the review is completed, courts usually ask the state to do exactly what this commission is already charged to do: look at the problem and propose possible solutions."
In other states that have undergone court challenges to their public education funding formula, the state governments "had shown a pattern of neglect toward local schools, and a lawsuit was needed to awaken state leaders to the problem."
But Dyke said that is not the case in Virginia, where state spending for education has grown significantly in recent years and where "we have also shown that we are willing to address the disparity issue and seek solutions."
While saying that Virginia's government probably would win a court challenge on the issue, Dyke acknowledged there is an "unacceptable disparity in available educational opportunities" and that "no system claiming to be excellent can tolerate the continuance of such a problem."
In giving the new study commission its mandate from the governor, Dyke urged members - including legislators, educators, local government officials and business community representatives - to come up with creative solutions.
Following his speech, Dyke acknowledged to reporters that some of the recommendations from the commission may have a high price tag and because Wilder has said he won't raise taxes during his administration, one of the most creative challenges may be to find the money to implement the commission's ideas.
Thomas warned the commission that it would likely be under pressure from education community lobbyists to recommend increased spending. But mentioning the state's high dropout rate specifically, Thomas said, "If you give more money without structural changes you're still going to have 25 percent dropouts."
Dyke and Suzanne F. Thomas, chairman of the State Board of Education, both emphasized there has been much progress in the state's education system in recent years.
"Test scores are up. Teacher salaries are increasing. More kids are going on to college and taking advanced placement courses. Funding for education is up," Dyke said. But "in spite of our current efforts, 25 percent of our current ninth-graders will not graduate from high school. No system claiming excellence can have as a byproduct thousands of functionally illiterate dropouts.
by CNB