Next Virginia governor will inherit education system issues

VirginiarecentlyrankedlastamongallstatesandWashington,D.C.inmathrecoveryandNo.41inreadingrecovery,makingeducationatopicofinterestinthegubernatorialrace. DemocraticgubernatorialnomineeAbigailSpanbergerreleaseda“StrengtheningVirginiaSchoolsPlan”thatcoversherproposalsforK-12andhighereducation,federalcuts,earlychildhooddevelopment,schoolsafetyandworkplacepreparation. Theplanexplainshowshewouldupholdacademicrigor,addresstheteachershortage,modernizeschools,increasesupportforstudentswithdisabilities,increaseaccesstochildcare,streamlinefinancialaidaccess,improvecollegeaffordabilityandmore. Spanberger,whosechildrenareenrolledinpublicschool,believesVirginianeedsadifferentapproachtoeducation. “IthinkthatifIweretolookbackwardsatsomeofthechallengesthatthecurrentadministrationhas[faced],it’sthattherewasanantagonisticapproachtowardseducation,”SpanbergersaidinPortsmouthwhensheannouncedtheeducationplan. Spanberger’spressteamdidnotre