"Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s signature lab school initiative is moving forward with two new lab schools approved by the Virginia Board of Education on Wednesday: Germanna Community College’s Future Educators Academy and University of Mary Washington’s Academy of Technology and Innovation.

Lab schools are partnerships between universities, school divisions and sometimes businesses that provide nonreligious education to K-12 students. They are open to the public and do not charge tuition. Similar to charter schools, they can set their own budgets and curricula. Although lab schools receive public funding, they are expected to be financially self-sufficient.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement Wednesday that the approval of the two new lab schools is 'the first step in giving parents new options for their kids to learn in innovative and creative ways and break the status quo of a one-size-fits all education,'" reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Related: UMW announces fall 2024 opening of academy for 9th graders with interest in science, computers (Augusta Free Press)