McDonnell's education agenda advancing

An overhaul of the contract and evaluation process for public school teachers and principals won preliminary approval in Virginia's House of Delegates on Friday, setting up a key component of Gov. Bob McDonnell's education agenda for a final vote on Monday.

Tentative approval of the plan, which would essentially phase out a tenure-like system in favor of three-year term contracts, capped a week of action on many pieces of the governor's education package.

While the governor's staff worked in committee rooms, McDonnell promoted his plan outside of the legislature with a tele-town hall on Wednesday evening featuring former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. McDonnell urged the people on the call — nearly 600 people invited by his political operation — to advocate for his proposals.

He told listeners that the teacher-contract proposal carries more rigorous performance reviews that relate to, among other things, student achievement.

Also this week, the administration's efforts to change the way students who attend public charter schools or virtual schools are funded advanced in the legislature, as did a bill sponsored by Del. Jimmie Massie, R-Henrico, that would give a tax credit to companies that donate money for low-income students to attend private school.

That measure, which was boosted during a school-choice rally at the state Capitol this week, passed in the Republican-dominated House last year.

But the Virginia Education Association holds concerns on some fronts, including the teacher contract changes because, they say, teachers on term contracts would lack any grievance process.

"It's been a bleak week for public education," said Robley Jones of the Virginia Education Association. Much attention, he said, is being paid to virtual and charter schools when public schools educate the vast majority of the state's children.

The House on Friday passed a bill 61-37 sponsored by Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William, that stipulates that at least 90 percent of per-pupil funding follow a student to a public charter school. It also requires that local school boards that deny a charter applicant or revoke a charter submit the rationale in writing to the Virginia Board of Education.

Opponents argue that setting the 90 percent figure as the funding floor limits flexibility and, they say, the reporting piece is pointless because the state board has no authority to act at that time. The final decision on granting charters rests with the local school board.

"When you say you have to come justify your decision to the commonwealth of Virginia, that's kind of implying if you deny it, you're doing something wrong," Del. Jennifer L. McClellan, D-Richmond, said on the House floor this week. "It's their decision."

The contract proposal has morphed from a plan to institute annual contracts and evaluations to one that would allow teachers currently on continuing contracts — 90 percent of the state's public school teachers — to keep them.

Under the bill, teachers who are not eligible for a continuing contract by the 2013-14 school year would receive a three-year term contract, which would not automatically renew. The probation period for teachers and principals would stretch to five years from three, and teachers and principals on either contract would be evaluated annually.

The House version of the proposal would allow teachers on continuing contracts keep them even if they switch school districts — a provision not included in the Senate version of the overhaul that limped out of a key committee Thursday. The Senate bill was first killed by the panel before being reconsidered and passing 8-7.