
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 2, 1990                   TAG: 9005020457
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By PATRICIA LOPEZ BADEN EDUCATION WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FUNDING NOT ONLY INEQUITY UNDER SCRUTINY

A state commission examining education disparity in Virginia says it will look not only at funding inequities, but other types of disparity that track students into less challenging courses or allow wealthy school districts to grab top-flight teachers by offering vastly higher salaries.

Judy Roberts, a member of the Commission on Equal Opportunity for All Virginians, told superintendents on Tuesday that commission members will look far beyond simple changes in the state funding formula.

"We will also be looking at disparities in program offerings, in teachers' salaries, and in the quality of programs," said Roberts, who is superintendent for York County schools. Roberts was addressing the state superintendents' conference, which wraps up its three-day meeting in Roanoke today.

Roberts said the commission will focus on defining the amount of disparity in Virginia's schools and recommendations on how to correct it.

"We have data that indicates only seven of 133 school divisions offer advanced physics," she said. "Too many do not offer high-level, advanced math and science courses.

"At grade 4 there is a 59-point-spread in composite achievement scores in this state," she said. "At grade 8 there is a 57-point-spread. So there are definite differences in achievement."

Roberts said that while the commission has only had one meeting, there have been indications that solutions to the disparity issue may have to take in other state and local agencies.

"I'm sure we will have to interconnect with other agencies," she said. "These problems go beyond just public education."

Some of the issues, she said, touch on community values. For instance, some communities are willing to tax themselves more than others for education. In addition, poorer areas have more children who reach school ill-prepared, fostering further disparity.

Roberts encouraged the superintendents to make their feelings known to the commission, and said that four public hearings will be held around the state in coming months to allow educators and the public to voice their concerns.

"Please, please, I've got to hear from you to involve your feelings and positions," said Roberts, who is the only superintendent on the commission. "Don't let me stand out there in isolation."

Several superintendents expressed concern that the commission would simply result in more state mandates, and micro-management of local school districts.

"We may be moving in the wrong direction," one superintendent said. "What I'm hearing sounds like more mandates. It makes me wonder if the commission is going to serve us at all. Deal with the equity of distribution of funds. Let's don't go to more mandates." Others said they favored establishing guidelines for a state curriculum, but not if that meant more rules from Richmond.

"Set up the guidelines," one superintendent said. "Hold us accountable, but get away from all these Mickey Mouse rules on how to get there. If someone can teach with 20 kids in a classroom and another can do it with 25, why should we be concerned about that?"

Roberts said the commission will make its final recommendations to the General Assembly next Feb. 28.

by CNB