RD281 - Academic-Year Governor’s Schools Funding Formula Study - October 1, 2014


Executive Summary:
*This report was replaced in its entirety by the Secretary of Education on December 16, 2014.

I. OVERVIEW OF STUDY REQUIREMENTS

• The General Assembly required in the 2014 Appropriation Act that the Secretary of Education conduct a study of the formula used to determine governor’s school funding (Item 127, Paragraph E., 2014 Appropriation Act):

"E. The Secretary of Education, with the support of the Department of Education, shall conduct a study of the formula used to determine governor’s school payments by October 1, 2014, and submit it to the Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees. The study shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of the length of the program, appropriate state and local shares, and the academic model used by governor’s schools in the configuration of the funding formula."

II. OVERVIEW OF ACADEMIC-YEAR GOVERNOR’S SCHOOLS

• The Academic-Year Governor’s Schools originated to offer educational services to gifted students in the areas of the arts, economics, government, humanities, inter-national studies, mathematics, science, and/or technology that could not be provided through the gifted education programs in the students’ local high schools. Through “communities of learners,” students in these programs experience an environment where individual abilities and interests are not restricted by age-level considerations, and where their emotional needs are recognized and addressed through appropriate strategies. The programs must demonstrate that they incorporate the following opportunities for those who attend:

• To develop their own separate identity as a community of learners;

• To learn and grow in an environment that nurtures the unique abilities and needs of gifted learners;

• To develop a positive and realistic concept of self and others;

• To belong to a community of learners who share interests and abilities;

• To learn about subjects of interest to them;

• To be risk takers and decision makers in a non-threatening environment;

• To provide career exploration and/or advanced classes that may help students as they prepare for college or other postsecondary opportunities; and

• To expand their knowledge of and interest in science and technology, the humanities, and the arts by providing interaction with the community, industry, professionals, and higher education.

• The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) administers funds that are appropriated by the General Assembly for Governor’s Schools.

• The Department of Education maintains a Web site that contains information related to the Academic-Year Governor’s School Programs.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/academic_year/index.shtml

• The first four Governor’s Schools opened in September 1985. Those schools, with their initial enrollment, participating school divisions, and locations are indicated in Table 1.

• Currently, 19 Academic-Year Governor’s Schools serve 6,548 high school students from 122 school divisions. Information about the 2013-2014 Academic-Year Governor’s Schools can be found in Appendix A. In 2013-2014, students from twenty-one (21) school divisions had access to more than one Academic-Year Governor’s School. A map of the sites and participating school divisions operating in 2013-2014 is provided as Appendix B.

• Each Academic-Year Governor’s School is governed by a regional board comprised of at least one school board representative from each of the participating school divisions in accordance with the Regulations Governing Jointly Owned and Operated Schools and Jointly Operated Programs [8VAC20-281-20]. The region-al governing board is charged with developing policies for the school including the school’s admission process, budget and local tuition contribution, and curriculum. Governor’s Schools are unique in their focus area, selection of students, funding scenario, and curriculum in order to best serve their regional constituency.

• Each school is funded in part by the state and by participating local school divisions.