The governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, recently proposed a plan to encourage more charter schools in the Commonwealth.  In his plan, McDonnell suggests that if a charter school does not recieve approval from the local school board then it may seek an appeal at the state level.  McDonnell's theory, as shared by many, is that education will improve where competition exists.  That competition is created in expanding the charter schools in the state.  Read more here. Charter schools are classified as those schools that are publicly funded by privately operated.  Because of their charter status they are granted more freedom in scheduling, curriculum, and other areas.  The hope is that a charter school will come up with a more successful approach to education.  Here's the rub.  According to the Washington Post article, charter schools or the possibility thereof have existed in Virginia for twelve years yet there are only three in the entire state.  What does this say?  I think we can reasonably conclude that Virginia, overall, is not interested.  The citizens of this state would prefer to invest their time, energy, and resources into a system that exists for the benefit of all.  Sure, there is always room for improvement in public education but is it worth scrapping all together?  I don't think so.