School program cuts, bigger class sizes and teacher layoffs could be in store for Virginia because of the state's budget woes.
Gov. Bob McDonnell confirmed today what many school officials had feared -- $731 million in state support for local school districts is going away.
That's about 35 percent of the $2.1 billion the governor plans to trim from the budget to make up a shortfall, and it comes on top of the $1.2 billion already cut from school budgets by former Gov. Tim Kaine.
The cuts will put more pressure on local schools which are already facing their own shortfalls, said Frank Barham, the executive director of the Virginia School Boards Association.
Barnham predicted schools will have to lay off tens of thousands of teachers, increase class sizes and cut programs to survive.
Schools aren't the only victims of state budget cuts.
McDonnell is also considering eliminating or reducing spending for several social service programs.
