RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says education reforms that have produced results in his state can also work in Virginia.

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Jindal helped promote Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's education reform package at a news conference Friday in Richmond. That package includes bills to grade public schools on an A-to-F scale, and to allow the state to take over chronically failing schools.

Louisiana implemented both reforms years ago. Jindal says they've been successful. He says the percentage of failing schools in New Orleans has been cut from 77 percent to 29 percent in a little over seven years.

The two bills backed by McDonnell are making their way through the General Assembly, but it hasn't been easy. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling cast a tie-breaking vote on them in the Senate earlier this week.