“The state has so far awarded 10 planning grants to higher education institutions proposing lab schools – publicly funded K-12 schools intended to prepare students for Virginia’s evolving workforce needs, including jobs in health care, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and computer science. 

But an application from the New College Institute in Martinsville for initial funds to plan a lab school has been rejected.

'NCI is continuing its planning efforts for a Lab School as detailed in the Governor’s Initiative.  It is unclear [if] a resubmission of a planning grant application will occur at this time,' said Christina Reed, assistant director of finance and operations at NCI, in an email. Reed has also served as interim director of the education center since July 2022,'" reports Cardinal News.

Photo: The New College Institute in Martinsville. Photo by Dean-Paul Stephens.