SB 598

Abstract

College partnership laboratory schools; application and establishment. Permits any public institution of higher education and any nonprofit private institution of higher education that is eligible for the Tuition Assistance Grant Program to establish a college partnership laboratory school as a new school or through the conversion of all or part of an existing school. Under current law, only public and private institutions of higher education that operate approved teacher education programs are permitted to apply to the Board to establish such a school, and no explicit provision is made for the conversion of an existing school. The bill requires applications for formation of a college partnership laboratory school to describe how the applicant will cooperate with local school boards, including allowing the local school board to elect to name a board member to the governing board of the college partnership laboratory school, and to include assurances that the applicant will work with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to develop programs that may award college credits. The bill requires the Board, among other criteria for reviewing and ruling on such applications, to give substantial preference to any application from a historically black college or university; any application to establish a college partnership laboratory school in an underserved community, which the bill defines as a geographical area that is served by public schools in which a high percentage of students are eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunch, as determined by the Board; and any joint application submitted by an institution of higher education in partnership with one or more local school boards. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

College partnership laboratory schools; applicationand establishment. Permits any public institution of higher education,private institution of higher education, or private business to applyto the Board of Education (the Board) to establish a college partnership laboratory school as a new school or through the conversion of allor part of an existing school. Under current law, only public andprivate institutions of higher education that operate approved teachereducation programs are permitted to apply to the Board to establishsuch a school and no explicit provision is made for the conversionof an existing school. The bill requires the Board, in reviewingsuch applications, to give substantial preference to any application from a historically black college or university and any applicationto establish a college partnership laboratory school in an underservedcommunity, which the bill defines as a geographical area that isserved by public schools in which a high percentage of students areeligible to receive free or reduced-price lunch, as determined bythe Board.