A major education issue this year is SOL reform. In recent years there’s been a nationwide discussion on the merits of standardized testing, and Virginia is no different. My friend and colleague, Delegate Rob Krupicka from Alexandria, was among those spearheading the bill that passed through the House this week. The new reforms would not only establish an independent committee to investigate further reforms, but it would limit the number of tests from grades three through eight. It would also allow local school boards to come up with their own tests or projects.

There’s one higher education bill I wish we had been able to advance. This was the proposal by Republican Delegate Tom Rust of Herndon and Arlington Delegate Alfonso Lopez to allow undocumented young men and women to attend Virginia public colleges and universities at in-state tuition rates.  In addition to the humanitarian aspects of this bill, it also makes good economic sense: after taxpayers have spent large sums educating these men and women in elementary and high school, we should want to encourage the best and the brightest to stay in Virginia and contribute to our economy rather than going out of state. We’ve missed the opportunity to do the right thing this year.  It will have to wait and the dream will be deferred for large numbers of our best students.  Report #4 from Richmond:  810 House Bills sent to the Senate for Consideration.