ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 15, 1997 TAG: 9701150095
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDOLPH A. BEALES
YOUR EDITORIAL (Nov. 25, ``The job-training conspiracy'') about Virginia's participation in the school-to-work initiative made several surprising and erroneous statements. Virginians deserve to know why the state didn't apply for the school-to-work implementation funds in August 1996 - and that the state fully intends to go after these funds in the next competition in July 1997.
The editorial implies that Virginia didn't apply for an implementation grant because the Allen administration supposedly ``fumbled.'' Nothing could be further from the truth. Virginia has been vigorously participating in school-to-work, seeking and receiving $880,000 in funds thus far, and we are seeking additional development funds this month. We have used these funds largely to provide 32 subgrants to localities to establish school-to-work initiatives.
By August 1996, however, most of our subgrantees had not met many of the goals that they had set for themselves at the beginning of their funding. Thus, they had not made the necessary progress that would have allowed Virginia to obtain these funds. With this in mind, we decided to focus our time and resources at the state level on providing more technical assistance and site visits to our subgrantees to help them succeed. Evidence confirms that the decision not to apply in August was a wise one. Only about half the states that applied received any implementation funding.
The editorial asserts, too, that Virginia turned down technical assistance offered by the federal government to help get the state ready for implementation. This is completely false. I've been director of the school-to-work initiative since April 1995, and we have never turned down any offers of technical assistance from the federal government. In fact, we are currently working closely with the federal government on a statewide school-to-work conference to be held in the spring.
The editorial also claims that since Virginia didn't apply for an implementation grant in 1996, we've lost available funds. The truth is that a state can only receive five years of implementation funding, and we've been assured by federal officials that no funding has been lost for Virginia. We may even receive more money because we can continue to receive development funding until we obtain implementation funding later this year.
Virginia's subgrantees are now closer to being on schedule and making much better progress than had been made by last summer. Through the subgrants provided to localities, students have benefitted - and more will continue to benefit. The federal government does not require that states give development-grant funds to localities, but the Allen administration believes in local control and in developing transition-to-work initiatives from the bottom up.
Contrary to what the editorial would have people believe, Virginia is committed to developing a quality school-to-work initiative that complements our push for high academic standards, supports a healthy and growing economy, and produces graduates prepared to get a job and have fulfilling careers and lives.
Randolph A. Beales is director of the Allen administration's school-to-work initiative.
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