"Roanoke College, Salem City Schools and Virginia Western Community College are teaming up to pursue a statewide goal of opening lab schools.

Roanoke College announced Monday it received one of 16 lab school planning grants from the Virginia Department of Education, worth $192,000. That money comes as part of a state government initiative to start up public lab schools operated by colleges and universities for K-12 students.

Planning grant money will be used during the next year to devise strategies and best practices for opening a lab school at Roanoke College, officials said.

The idea is to serve high school students who might not otherwise have access to help with college preparation and career readiness, said Kathy Wolfe, Roanoke College vice president for academic affairs.
 

'Lab schools are intended to foster innovation and collaboration among educators,' Wolfe said. 'We are really committed to improving college access and affordability for more students in the Roanoke Valley,'" reports The Roanoke Times.

Photo: On right, Salem Schools Superintendent Curtis Hicks speaks about planning for a lab school during a press conference at Roanoke College on Monday morning. Beside him from left are Roanoke College's Kathy Wolfe, who is vice president for academic affairs, and Lisa Stoneman, who chairs the education department. 
Luke Weir, The Roanoke Times