Virginia Schools Insider - Education news from Virginia.

Posted at 12:54 PM ET, 03/02/2012

Fairfax school board will vote on honor cords for seniors who enlist in the military

By Emma Brown

The school board will vote on whether to require high schools to recognize military-bound seniors with red, white and blue honor cords to be worn during graduation ceremonies

By Emma Brown | 12:54 PM ET, 03/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools

Posted at 01:10 PM ET, 03/01/2012

Virginia Senate delays vote on teacher tenure measure

By Emma Brown

For the fourth day in a row, Virginia’s Senate put off voting on whether to eliminate tenure-style protections for teachers.

By Emma Brown | 01:10 PM ET, 03/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Virginia, Virginia politics, Virginia General Assembly, Education, Teacher tenure

Posted at 11:43 AM ET, 02/29/2012

The Lorax helps market Mazda SUVs to elementary school children nationwide

By Emma Brown

The Lorax — that squat orange creature Dr. Seuss created to speak for the trees — is now hawking SUVs at elementary schools.

By Emma Brown | 11:43 AM ET, 02/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: alexandria city public schools

Posted at 03:48 PM ET, 02/28/2012

Prince William schools’ administration responds to ‘work to rule’ protests

By Jeremy Borden

Letter from superintendent spells out teacher responsibilities.

By Jeremy Borden | 03:48 PM ET, 02/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:34 PM ET, 02/28/2012

Fairfax official: County can’t afford schools’ requested transfer

By Emma Brown

Fairfax County Executive Anthony Griffin outlined a proposed $6.7 billion budget Tuesday that would leave the public school system with some tough budget decisions.

By Emma Brown | 01:34 PM ET, 02/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools

Posted at 03:59 PM ET, 02/23/2012

Virginia seeks No Child Left Behind waiver

By Emma Brown

If Education Secretary Arne Duncan grants Virginia’s request, schools will no longer be required to ensure that all students are proficient in math and reading by 2014.

By Emma Brown | 03:59 PM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: no child left behind

Posted at 03:02 PM ET, 02/23/2012

Peter Noonan named Fairfax City schools superintendent

By Emma Brown

Fairfax County schools administrator Peter Noonan will serve as the next superintendent of Fairfax City’s four schools.

By Emma Brown | 03:02 PM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax city schools

Posted at 09:47 AM ET, 02/23/2012

Proposal to eliminate teacher job protections still alive in Virginia Senate

By Emma Brown

A bill to eliminate teachers’ tenure-style job protections will return to the floor of the Virginia Senate next week.

By Emma Brown | 09:47 AM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: general assembly, teacher tenure

Posted at 06:26 PM ET, 02/22/2012

Fairfax charter school seeks approval from state board of education

By Emma Brown

State education officials indicated support Wednesday for the proposed Fairfax Leadership Academy, moving it one step closer to becoming Northern Virginia’s first charter school.

By Emma Brown | 06:26 PM ET, 02/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, charter schools

Posted at 04:06 PM ET, 02/17/2012

In unexpected move, Loudoun School Board makes deeper cuts

By Caitlin Gibson

In an unscheduled move late in a Tuesday night meeting, the Loudoun School Board cut about $2.4 million and removed 40 new full-time positions from next year’s spending plan.

By Caitlin Gibson | 04:06 PM ET, 02/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:31 AM ET, 02/16/2012

Arlington school officials update community on plan to reduce overcrowding

By Emma Brown

Officials hope to add 7,000 seats over the next 10 years to keep up with growing enrollment in Arlington schools, many of which are already bursting at the seams.

By Emma Brown | 11:31 AM ET, 02/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: arlington county public schools, crowding

Posted at 05:43 PM ET, 02/15/2012

Fairfax school board narrowly approves budget

By Emma Brown

The split vote signals philosophical divisions that may affect the tenor of negotiations with the county Board of Supervisors.

By Emma Brown | 05:43 PM ET, 02/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county public schools, budget

Posted at 12:45 PM ET, 02/15/2012

Prince William Education Association endorses ‘work to rule’ campaign protesting salary freezes

By Jeremy Borden

The teachers want promised “step” salary increases. The campaign could affect after-school activities.

By Jeremy Borden | 12:45 PM ET, 02/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Prince William County, Education

Posted at 12:37 PM ET, 02/15/2012

McLean, Langley students arrested for drinking

By Emma Brown

Five Fairfax County students were arrested for underage drinking Friday night after a basketball game between crosstown rivals McLean and Langley high schools.

By Emma Brown | 12:37 PM ET, 02/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: fairfax county, underage drinking

Posted at 03:59 PM ET, 02/14/2012

Senate debates teacher tenure bill

By Emma Brown

A Senate bill on eliminating certain tenure-related job protections appeared to be in jeopardy when a Republican senator asked for the vote to be delayed.

By Emma Brown | 03:59 PM ET, 02/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: teacher tenure, general assembly

Posted at 12:33 PM ET, 02/13/2012

Virginia House votes to eliminate teacher job protections

By Emma Brown

The fight now heads to the Senate, which is expected to vote Tuesday on a measure that would make far-reaching changes to teacher evaluations and employment.

By Emma Brown | 12:33 PM ET, 02/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: general assembly, teacher tenure

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 02/13/2012

Prince William ‘work to the rule’ school protest begins

By Jeremy Borden

Forest Park High teachers express frustration at pay freeze; other schools expected to join.

By Jeremy Borden | 09:30 AM ET, 02/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:07 AM ET, 02/10/2012

Some Prince William teachers consider ‘work to the rule’ protest

By Jeremy Borden

The county’s proposed pay freezes starting Monday not embraced by all.

By Jeremy Borden | 11:07 AM ET, 02/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:36 AM ET, 02/08/2012

Fight over teacher tenure underway in Virginia

By Emma Brown

The fight over teachers’ job security is underway in the Virginia General Assembly, where committees are considering bills to eliminate tenure.

By Emma Brown | 09:36 AM ET, 02/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: general assembly, tenure

Posted at 11:16 AM ET, 02/07/2012

Prince William County teachers ask School Board not to freeze pay

By Jeremy Borden

Prince William County teachers say a well-to-do county should value instructors more.

By Jeremy Borden | 11:16 AM ET, 02/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:51 AM ET, 02/06/2012

Judge sets trial date in Loudoun school-tardiness case

By Emma Brown

Amy and Mark Denicore are headed to a full-blown trial to defend themselves against charges that they violated Virginia law by making their kids late to elementary school too often.

By Emma Brown | 10:51 AM ET, 02/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: loudoun county public schools, attendance

Posted at 05:23 PM ET, 02/01/2012

Manassas schools chief Gail Pope to step aside

By Jeremy Borden

The Manassas superintendent plans to pursue other opportunities.

By Jeremy Borden | 05:23 PM ET, 02/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:05 PM ET, 01/31/2012

Shareholder lawsuit accuses K12 Inc. of misleading investors

By Emma Brown

A shareholder is alleging that the virtual-schools operator violated securities law by making false statements to to investors about students’ poor performance.

By Emma Brown | 02:05 PM ET, 01/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: k12 inc., virtual schools

Posted at 10:56 AM ET, 01/31/2012

Va. has strong science standards, but may lose third-grade science test

By Emma Brown

Virginia’s science standards stand out as some of the most rigorous in the nation, according to the conservative Fordham Institute. But strong standards do little if they’re not taught.

By Emma Brown | 10:56 AM ET, 01/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: science, general assembly

Virginia Schools Insider: March, 2012