THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, June 28, 1996                 TAG: 9606280662
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY MATTHEW BOWERS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                          LENGTH:   46 lines

VA.'S CITIZENS TO BE ASKED FOR GUIDANCE ON EDUCATION

The state's education policymakers agreed Thursday to ask Virginians for suggestions and guidance at public hearings to be scheduled around the state this summer:

What kind of public schools do people want?

What kind do they believe their children need?

The reason for the questions is the board of education's intent to revise its standards for accrediting public schools in Virginia before the 1997-98 school year starts.

The board wants those standards to better reflect new, more academically rigorous Standards of Learning passed last year, which spell out what schoolchildren in each grade should learn in English, social studies, math and science.

To be accredited - required by state law to operate as a public school in Virginia - schools must meet minimum standards in a host of areas, from physical plant to operating procedures to educational programs.

The board wants the new accreditation standards to focus more on student achievement - the number of library books and advanced-placement classes offered, for example - than on things like a school's bus plan.

The hearings approved at the board's monthly meeting Thursday will begin in August around the state, including Hampton Roads. Comments will help guide state education officials in writing the new proposed standards.

``We are trying to get a public dialogue going, more than anything,'' board member Lil Tuttle said.

The revised standards, once written, will be published and available for two further bouts of public comment next year before they take effect.

The preliminary hearing schedule is expected to be announced next month.

Board President Michelle Easton was asked to help write a general policy statement to give members of the public some idea of the scope and direction of the revisions, so they will have something on which to comment.

``Like: `We're not going to take over your schools,' '' Easton said. ``I think that allaying fears is so important.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

IDEAS

Those seeking to comment early can write to:

Virginia Board of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, Va.

23218-2120. by CNB