Education
Local School Funding Headaches Started with the State
Localities across the state are wrestling with tough questions about how to find the money they need to support their schools. But the fact is, the state bears substantial blame for the situation. State lawmakers made deep cuts to public education during and after the recession, and are only now starting to dig out of that hole.
Money Matters in Education
Policymakers and concerned residents often ask if increased spending really improves student performance, particularly for those students who are struggling most. Well, a new study shows increased spending in low-income school districts raises the test scores of their students and reduces achievement gaps.
Missing the Mark in School Support
Virginia’s Senate and House approved a two-year budget that takes an important step forward by partially restoring support for public schools after many years of significant cuts. Unfortunately, the legislature did not appropriately target the help to school divisions in high-poverty communities that sustained the largest cuts.