While the Attorney General fully supports turning around failing schools he will not defend legislation that permits the state to take over failing schools because he does not believe the law to be legal. A lawsuit against the state is being prepared by Virginia School Board Association and the Norfolk City School Board.
“Attorney General Cuccinelli certainly supports efforts to turn failing schools around,” spokesman Brian J. Gottstein said. “However, his legal analysis shows that, unfortunately, this law goes about it in a way that is unconstitutional. The Virginia Constitution states – and the courts have affirmed – that the supervision of public schools must remain with their local school districts.”
On the same day that Cuccinelli issued this statement, the Governor visited a middle school in Norfolk to defend the law known as Opportunity Educational Institution.
More on the story here.
