Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 31, 1994 TAG: 9408310062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
On the political front, the committee said the secretary of education needs more than the ``persuasive powers'' the office holds. Among the authority the secretariat should have is the administration of about $75 million in college financial aid grants that are handled by the State Council of Higher Education, the committee said.
The power of the state council, however, should be cut, the panel said, ``leaving [it] solely as a specialized advisory study group'' to the governor and the legislature - not the state's leading oversight agency for all public, private and proprietary schools.
Moreover, the director of the state council and the chancellor of Virginia's community colleges should be appointed by the governor - not the groups' independent boards, the committee said.
The committee urged slowing the pace at which public school teachers win continuing contracts by lengthening the probationary period beyond the current three years.
The committee also said parents should be allowed to choose which schools their children attend and that tuition tax credits should be available for those who select private schools.
It said both the school day and the school year should be lengthened to provide more time for core academic studies.
Another recommendation called for requiring public schools to provide ``competency guarantees'' and reimburse colleges for any remedial work their graduates may need. Similarly, the group blamed the colleges for sometimes graduating students who are ill-equipped for a high-tech workplace.
by CNB