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By JESSICA FALK
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
After receiving input during seven public hearings and visits to 30 schools, the Governor’s Commission on Champion Schools released several preliminary recommendations in its interim report.
These recommendations focus on two broad topics—improving academic quality and returning educational control to parents. Most of the information in the rreport concerns topics for discussion during the 1995 session of the General Assembly.
The 53 members of the bipartisan commission, including the chairman, Beverly Sgro, State Secretary of Education and vicechairman William Bosher, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, were appointed by Gov. George Allen last spring to study Virginia’s current education system and then design a plan for comprehensive educational reform.
“We looked at this with the feeling that our education system...is not nearly as good as it was, should and must be,” said Del. Jay Katzen, R-31st District, a member of the commission. “We must change to meet changing needs as time passes,” he continued.
As far as academic standards are concerned, the commission followed Gov. Allen’s charge that specific and challenging standards that can somehow be measured be put into place. The interim report includes revised Standards of Learning for math and science. Similar reforms for language arts and social studies are forthcoming.
The commission then recommended that these new Standards of Learning be made requirements rather than just guidelines, as they are now.
Another key issue in the area of academic improvement is accountability. The commission recommended that the state develop and
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