VIRGINIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS SCORE "C" ON TRANSPARENCY TEST
Sunshine Review analyzes school districts’ disclosure of key information
Alexandria, VA— Virginia school districts earned an overall "C" transparency grade for information available on their websites according to an analysis conducted by Sunshine Review, a pro-transparency group.
Sunshine Review employs a "10 Point Transparency Checklist" to assess state and local government websites on proactive disclosure of government information. The checklist measures content available on government websites against what should be provided. Checklist items include information about budgets, meetings, elected and administrative officials, background checks, audits, contracts, academic performance, public records, and taxes.
No school districts earned an "A" and thirty other school districts earned "D" or "F" transparency scores. Seven school districts, including Alexandria Public Schools, earned the state's highest transparency grade with a "B."
President of Sunshine Review Michael Barnhart believes school districts should proactively disclose their spending, saying "It is crucial for parents and taxpayers to have access to complete information about how school districts operate."
Sunshine Review is a non-profit organization dedicated to state and local government transparency. Sunshine Review collaborates with individuals and organizations throughout America in the cause of an informed citizenry and a transparent government. Since its inception in 2008, Sunshine Review has analyzed the websites of all 50 states, more than 3,140 counties, 805 cities, and 1,560 school districts.
For more information, visit www.sunshinereview.org.
Contact:
Kristin McMurray
Senior Editor
P: 810-623-2623.