What is the Opportunity Educational Institution, also known as OEI?
A statewide agency, proposed by Gov. Bob McDonnell and established this year by the General Assembly, to supervise and improve schools denied accreditation by the Virginia Department of Education.
Who runs it?
McDonnell appointed the executive director, Jason Sears, a former teacher and principal who also helped start a Chicago charter school. Sears handles the administrative aspects and doesn't have voting power.
The board members are:
State Sen. Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover)
State Sen. Kenneth Alexander (D-Norfolk)
Del. Richard Bell (R-Staunton)
Del. Daun Hester (D-Norfolk)
Lisa Goeas, vice president of political and grassroots for the National Federation of Independent Business
Julia Ciarlo Hammond, director of legislative affairs and public policy advisor for the governor
Doug Mesecar, founder of Adeptio Education, a consulting firm, and former U.S. Department of Education deputy chief of staff and assistant deputy secretary
John Nunnery, executive director of The Center for Educational Partnerships of Old Dominion University
Anne S. O'Toole, retired principal for Chesterfield County Public Schools and educational consultant
Nonvoting members - the Secretary of Education Javaid Siddiqi or his designee; two staffers from the Virginia Department of Education will assist the board
When will the board meet?
The first meeting is 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Patrick Henry Building, 1111 E. Broad St., Richmond.
No regular schedule has been set, but the board is expected to meet monthly.
What types of authority does OEI have?
The OEI board will operate much like a local school board, but with broader power over daily operations, including the ability to hire staff and develop instructional plans.
Which schools are targeted for takeover?
Norfolk - Lafayette-Winona Middle, Ruffner Middle, Lindenwood Elementary
Petersburg - A.P. Hill Elementary, Peabody Middle
Alexandria - Jefferson-Houston Elementary
When?
Starting Jan. 1, schools slated for takeover must disclose information and documents relevant to operations. Sears will meet with division leaders of schools eligible for transfer. OEI is to begin supervising those schools in the 2014-15 school year.
How will long will a school remain under OEI control?
Until it earns full accreditation. The OEI board can decide after five years whether to retain control or transfer it back to the local division. The law doesn't spell out what happens if a school doesn't earn accreditation while under OEI supervision.
How is OEI funded?
There are two funding streams:
Per-pupil funding - federal, state and local money assigned to each student enrolled
State budget - Gov. McDonnell has requested $600,000 for each year in the 2014-15 budget. Last year, the General Assembly appropriated $150,000 and the Virginia Department of Education provided $450,000 in carryover funds.
What's the OEI budget?
Sears is paid $125,000 and is considering hiring additional staff. Board members can receive per diem and travel reimbursement.
To whom is OEI accountable?
After each school year, the board must report to the governor and the General Assembly about school status, staff, operations and student academic performance; Sears reports to the board.
Students attending OEI schools still take state Standards of Learning exams and each school is beholden to state and federal accountability standards.
What's the relationship of OEI to the Virginia Department of Education?
OEI is not a school division under the state education department's purview like others in the state. OEI is a separate statewide agency managing specific schools.
What strategies will OEI use to improve accreditation?
That's unclear, but a specific plan will be developed for each school, according to Sears.
Will teachers have to reapply for their jobs?
OEI may or may not hire the teachers working in schools eligible for takeover, and teachers can't be forced to work for OEI. The local division can retain, reassign or dismiss any employee who chooses to stay.
Will more schools be added to OEI's takeover list?
Possibly, if more schools are denied accreditation for consistent low performance on state tests.
According to the law, OEI must supervise any school that has been denied accreditation. Schools accredited with warning three consecutive years also are eligible for OEI oversight, but the OEI board isn't planning on supervising those schools this coming school year.