The Issues

Education Freedom

SOL Reform: Will There Be Unintended Consequences?

In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly replaced one eighth-grade social studies Standards of Learning (SOL) exam with three required middle school SOL tests. In 2009, Virginia’s state superintendent proposed eliminating...

Christian Braunlich
January 29, 2014

Historical Overview of the Standards of Learning Program

Editor’s Note: This is the last in a series, reprinting the Virginia Board of Education’s SOL history published in the 2013 Annual Report on the Conditions and Needs of Public...

Jefferson Forum
January 29, 2014

Policy Brief: Educating Children, Saving State Funds

Judging from the first year of scholarships granted under the Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credit (EISTC), the program not only provides new opportunities for low-income students, but do so at...

Jefferson Forum
January 21, 2014

Historical Overview of the Standards of Learning Program

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a series, reprinting the Virginia Board of Education’s SOL history published in the 2013 Annual Report on the Conditions and Needs of Public...

Jefferson Forum
January 14, 2014

The Jefferson Journal: A New Source for Qualified Employees

To keep its economy moving, Virginia will need more than two million new workers in the next ten years, but there are only 1.5 million bodies in the pipeline. Why...

Christian Braunlich
January 7, 2014

Historical Overview of the Standards of Learning Program

Editor’s Note: This is Part III of the Jefferson Policy Journal’s reprint of the Virginia Board of Education’s SOL history published in the 2013 Annual Report on the Conditions and...

Jefferson Forum
January 2, 2014

Historical Overview of the Standards of Learning Program – Part II

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series reprinting the Virginia Board of Education’s SOL history published in the 2013 Annual Report on the Conditions and Needs of Public...

Jefferson Forum
December 18, 2013

Historical Overview of the Standards of Learning Program: Part I

(Editor’s Note:  Virginia Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe campaigned on a pledge to radically “reform the SOLs” – Virginia’s Standards of Learning and their accompanying tests.  As the General Assembly and the...

Jefferson Forum
December 4, 2013

A Bold Reform for Education Funding

George Allen and Standards of Learning reform.  Jim Gilmore and car tax reduction.  Bob McDonnell and transportation reform. That’s what we remember. So what does Governor-elect McAuliffe want to be...

Christian Braunlich
November 14, 2013

Jefferson Forum concentrates on policies that affect everyday life in Virginia

Economic Freedom

Lower taxes and fewer regulations

Education Freedom

More choices for Virginia families

Energy Freedom

Reliable, affordable energy

Worker Freedom

Protecting Virginia’s right-to-work tradition

These are the building blocks of a more competitive and prosperous Virginia.