Governor McDonnell's Legislation to Create Opportunity Education Institution to Turn Around Failing Schools Passes House of Delegates

Statement

Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement upon House passage of his legislation to create the "Opportunity Education Institution" in Virginia to rescue failing schools.

"I'm very pleased that legislation to create the Opportunity Education Institution to rescue and turn around failing schools in Virginia passed this morning with strong bipartisan support. No parent wants their child in a failing school. Our constitutional obligation is 'to ensure that an educational program of high quality is established and continually maintained for all students throughout the Commonwealth.' If we provide access to a high quality education to most students, but fail in that obligation in one school, we aren't doing our job. We are letting students, parents and teachers down. The overwhelming majority of our schools are world-class and provide children with excellent opportunities. But in the rare instance when a school is failing, we cannot afford to maintain the status quo. That is unacceptable. We must step in with innovation, resources and creativity to get that school back on track and our student's back to learning. Regardless of their zip code every child in Virginia deserves a quality public school education. I thank Delegate Habeeb for his leadership in carrying this legislation in the House, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to also vote today to ensure that all students are afforded the opportunity to get a great education in Virginia."

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