Meeting Summary
Virginia Board of Education
April 27, 2007
Regulations Governing Literary Loan Applications in Virginia
The Board authorized the Department of Education to open the Regulations Governing Literary Loan Applications in Virginia (8 VAC 20-100-10 et seq.) for a review period so that the current regulations can be considered for additions, deletions or revision. The last time the regulations were revised was in 1995.
Regulations Governing Jointly Owned and Operated Schools and Jointly Operated Programs
The Board authorized the Department of Education to open the Regulations Governing Jointly Owned and Operated Schools and Jointly Operated Programs (8 VAC 20-280-10 et seq.) for review and comment. These regulations have not been amended since 1980 and do not address changes that have been made in the operations of joint schools and joint programs since the regulations were written.
Spirit of the Commonwealth Award
The Board approved the Board of Education’s Spirit of the Commonwealth Award and will inform school divisions of the eligibility requirements. This annual award is for high school juniors who have demonstrated academic achievement, well-rounded participation in school activities, and community and civic responsibility. Individual middle/junior and high schools will also be able to receive an award by providing diverse opportunities for students to serve the community and others in co-curricular and/or extracurricular activities, such as service learning and volunteering experiences.
Resolution Delegating the Approval of Other States Comprehensive Subject Area Assessments as Substitute Tests
The Regulations in 8 VAC 20-131-110, Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia, permit the approval for assessments administered as part of another state’s accountability assessment program as substitutes for the Standards of Learning assessments, for the purpose of awarding verified credit to students who transfer to Virginia from out of state. The resolution presented and accepted by the board on first review would delegate the final approval of additional tests for the purpose of awarding verified credit to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with specific conditions.
Finance Requirement for All Students in Waynesboro Public Schools
The Board accepted for first review Waynesboro City Public Schools request to increase graduation requirements to include a course in finance, incorporating the Board’s objectives in economic education and financial literacy. The student could complete either a full year, credit bearing course from the finance concentration sequence in Career and Technical Education (CTE), for which the student would earn a standards credit or complete a shorter online course which would also be based on the finance concentration sequence in CTE. While this is strictly for Waynesboro City Public Schools, the Board indicated its desire to further this discussion in the future and look into approving similar changes applicable to all school divisions.
Approval of Remedial Plans
The Board accepted for first review the report on local school division remedial plans. 130 school divisions submitted remediation plans and the Department staff determined that all of the plans meet the requirements of 8 VAC 20-630-20. Loudoun County and Frederick County indicated that they will not offer a remedial summer program.
Supplemental Education Service Providers
The Board approved changes to the list of supplemental education service providers, adding A+ Markem and ATS Educational Consulting Services-Project Success as providers eligible to provide services in all school divisions.
Reports
The Board accepted the report of their Student Advisory Committee. The Committee focused on three topics: 1) Cultural Awareness, International Students and Foreign Language in the Public Education System; 2) Drug Abuse and Alcohol Awareness and Prevention Program; and 3) Closing the Achievement Gap. The Committee made recommendations as to how these topics could be further explored or made available in the classroom.