Virginia Schools Insider - Education news from Virginia.

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 10/31/2011

In Fairfax, Lolita Mancheno-Smoak wants to channel business experience into school board service

By Emma Brown

Lolita Mancheno-Smoak has no prior experience with Fairfax schools — a strength, she says, that will allow her to see issues through unjaded eyes.

By Emma Brown | 06:00 AM ET, 10/31/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, fairfax county school board, lolita mancheno-smoak

Posted at 11:50 AM ET, 10/28/2011

West Springfield Dance Team returns to national television

By Emma Brown

The West Springfield Dance Team’s performance will air at 11 a.m. Monday — which happens to be Halloween. And that’s entirely appropriate.

By Emma Brown | 11:50 AM ET, 10/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: west springfield dance team

Posted at 05:20 PM ET, 10/27/2011

Steve Stuban channels grief over son’s suicide into race for Fairfax school board

By Emma Brown

If anyone can win a countywide seat without a political party’s voters, volunteers and money, it might be Steve Stuban.

By Emma Brown | 05:20 PM ET, 10/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, fairfax county school board, steve stuban

Posted at 08:17 PM ET, 10/26/2011

How much does Fairfax County schools’ central office spend?

By Emma Brown

How much does Fairfax County Public Schools spend on its central office? How much could be saved and spent on classrooms instead?

By Emma Brown | 08:17 PM ET, 10/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, fairfax school board

Posted at 10:14 PM ET, 10/25/2011

Fairfax school board incumbent Ilryong Moon defends record

By Emma Brown

Ilryong Moon is the lone incumbent running in the at-large race for Fairfax school board.

By Emma Brown | 10:14 PM ET, 10/25/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, fairfax county school board, ilryong moon

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 10/25/2011

Virginia Supreme Court backs Loudoun schools in discipline case

By Kevin Sieff

The high court upholds the Loudoun school system’s decision to suspend 11 students caught drinking alcohol on a school trip to France.

By Kevin Sieff | 11:15 AM ET, 10/25/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 10/24/2011

Fairfax parents push for “real food” for kids

By Emma Brown

How many ingredients are in beef patty served in Fairfax County cafeterias?

By Emma Brown | 06:00 AM ET, 10/24/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, school lunch

Posted at 06:19 PM ET, 10/21/2011

Virginia does not apply for federal pre-K funding

By Emma Brown

The state, which could have received up to $60 million, was one of 15 that did not apply.

By Emma Brown | 06:19 PM ET, 10/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: virginia state board of education, bob mcdonnell, race to the top

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 10/20/2011

Tea party Republican runs for Fairfax school board

By Emma Brown

Lin-Dai Kendall, who describes herself as part of the tea party movement, is hoping her conservative approach will help her win a school board seat.

By Emma Brown | 06:00 AM ET, 10/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, fairfax school board, lin-dai kendall

Posted at 05:47 PM ET, 10/18/2011

N.C. school system offers example of successful digital transformation

By Emma Brown

How one school district made impressive academic gains by distributing laptops to every student.

By Emma Brown | 05:47 PM ET, 10/18/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, digital learning, henrico county schools

Posted at 02:10 PM ET, 10/18/2011

Presidential politics and Virginia public schools

By Kevin Sieff

When Barack Obama is announcing new legislation or rallying the Democratic base, there’s one key destination the president is likely to visit: a Virginia public school.

By Kevin Sieff | 02:10 PM ET, 10/18/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 10/18/2011

Fairfax schools, county government cooperate to attack poverty

By Emma Brown

Fairfax aims to create a tightly woven support network that helps a child from cradle to college and career.

By Emma Brown | 06:00 AM ET, 10/18/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, poverty, tina hone, opportunity neighborhoods

Posted at 09:09 AM ET, 10/17/2011

Lynchburg educator named Virginia Teacher of the Year

By Emma Brown

Lynchburg teacher Meg Smith encourages students to get excited about writing by helping them find ways to publish their work.

By Emma Brown | 09:09 AM ET, 10/17/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: teacher of the year, fairfax county public schools

Posted at 10:33 AM ET, 10/15/2011

Top Virginia Education Official Accused of Accepting Trips Paid for by Education Company

By Kevin Sieff

A top Virginia education official is under fire for accepting overseas trips funded in part by Pearson Education, a company whose contracts with the state education department are worth millions of dollars.

By Kevin Sieff | 10:33 AM ET, 10/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:18 AM ET, 10/15/2011

Top Virginia education official’s travel questioned

By Kevin Sieff

A top Virginia education official is under fire for accepting overseas trips funded in part by the foundation of a company with state contracts.

By Kevin Sieff | 01:18 AM ET, 10/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:33 PM ET, 10/14/2011

Loudoun school board candidate’s arrest shakes up race

By Kevin Sieff

Kevin Kuesters was arrested last week for allegedly assaulting his wife, prompting a newly competitive race.

By Kevin Sieff | 05:33 PM ET, 10/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:01 PM ET, 10/14/2011

Fairfax class sizes explained

By Emma Brown

Behind the back-and-forth about class size is a fundamental question about what it means to distribute resources fairly in public schools.

By Emma Brown | 03:01 PM ET, 10/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, jane strauss, louise epstein, fairfax school board, class size

Posted at 03:06 PM ET, 10/13/2011

Michelle Obama receives rousing welcome at Annandale High School

By Emma Brown

By Emma Brown | 03:06 PM ET, 10/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Fairfax County Public Schools, Michelle Obama

Posted at 08:30 AM ET, 10/13/2011

First lady Michelle Obama to visit Annandale High School in Fairfax

By Emma Brown

The event is part of an official state visit by the South Korean president and his wife.

By Emma Brown | 08:30 AM ET, 10/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, michelle obama, annandale high school

Posted at 12:11 AM ET, 10/13/2011

Fairfax school board candidates feature same three teens in competing campaign images

By Emma Brown

Two candidates running against each other for Fairfax County school board disagree about plenty. But they have the same taste in campaign art.

By Emma Brown | 12:11 AM ET, 10/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county school board, jane strauss, louise epstein, lolita mancheno-smoak, elizabeth schultz, catherine lorenze

Posted at 12:10 AM ET, 10/13/2011

Virginia Schools Insider: An intro

By Kevin Sieff

Virginia education reporters bring you the latest from school boards and classrooms across the commonwealth

By Kevin Sieff | 12:10 AM ET, 10/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:10 AM ET, 10/13/2011

Virginia graduation rate rises, but achievement gap remains

By Emma Brown

In Northern Virginia, graduation rates are generally higher than state averages, but achievement gaps persist.

By Emma Brown | 12:10 AM ET, 10/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:33 AM ET, 10/12/2011

Top Virginia Education Official Accused of Accepting Trips Paid for by Education Company

By Kevin Sieff

A top Virginia education official is under fire for accepting overseas trips funded in part by Pearson Education, a company whose contracts with the state education department are worth millions of dollars.

By Kevin Sieff | 10:33 AM ET, 10/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Virginia Schools Insider: October, 2011