Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 22, 1994 TAG: 9402220085
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"It is an important and positive step, but we still need bigger steps," said Walker, chairman of the Coalition for Equity in Educational Funding.
The coalition is a group of rural and inner-city school systems that has sued the state, charging it has failed to provide an equal educational opportunity for all children.
The case is pending before the Virginia Supreme Court.
Walker said it's too early to say what, if any, impact the plan will have on the lawsuit.
"I'm not in a position to say what may become of the court case," he said.
The plan to reduce disparities has been approved by the money committees in the Senate and House of Delegates.
The state would provide additional funds to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through third grade and to establish pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk 4-year-olds.
The state also would provide grants for educational technology in middle and high schools.
Walker, superintendent of Halifax County and South Boston schools, said the plan is educationally sound because it focuses on early-childhood education.
"Reducing the class size will help. This is a valuable step," Walker said.
Halifax County and South Boston schools will receive $892,012 if the General Assembly approves the plan.
Educators say smaller classes will help at-risk children because teachers can give more attention to each student.
"The initiative is focused in the right direction," said John Kent, Bedford County superintendent.
"It will have a significant impact. It will give us the ability to add more teachers.
"We find that the gap widens between students if they come out of the early grades with deficiencies in the basic skills in mathematics and reading," Kent said.
The funds would be distributed statewide. The plan will benefit not only rural and inner-city school systems, but several suburban counties as well.
Rural and inner-city schools would receive more money per pupil than suburban counties.
But some of the wealthiest counties in Northern Virginia and the Richmond area would receive substantial amounts.
Because of their large enrollments, they would get more than twice as much as some rural counties in Western Virginia.
Fairfax County would receive $2.8 million; Henrico, $2.3 million; and Prince William, $2 million.
By comparison, rural and suburban counties in the Roanoke area with smaller enrollments would not get as much. Botetourt County would get $157,829; Roanoke County, $327,376; and Franklin County, $603,083.
In addition to having large enrollments, the suburban counties in Northern Virginia and Richmond have many students who qualify for free lunches, the key factor in fund distribution.
In Fairfax County, at least 25 percent of the students in 34 schools qualify for free lunches, and in four schools, more than 50 percent qualify. Fairfax has 135,000 students in 128 schools.
In Henrico County, at least 25 percent of the students in 13 schools qualify for subsidized meals. More than 50 percent in three schools qualify. Henrico has 35 schools and an enrollment of 35,000.
Although these populous, suburban counties would receive more than counties in Western Virginia, most would receive less per student.
Fairfax would receive $21 per student; Chesterfield, $37; and Henrico, $66.
By comparison, Montgomery County would receive $103 per child; Franklin County, $94; Bedford County, $78; and Roanoke County, $24.
In Western Virginia, Roanoke would receive the largest amount by far - $2.4 million - and the most per student - $187. The city's enrollment is 12,800.
The disparity plan would fund a student-teacher ratio of 18-to-1 in schools with more than 50 percent of students qualifying for free lunches. Where the free-lunch student population is between 25 and 49 percent, the student-teacher ratio would be 20-to-1.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
by CNB