Meeting Summary

Virginia Board of Education
May 30-31, 2007

Finance Requirement for All Students in Waynesboro Public Schools
The Board approved 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 approved 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.

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 Board approved the delegation of final approval of additional tests for the purpose of awarding verified credit to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with specific conditions.

Regulatory repeals, amendments and consolidations
The Board approved proceeding with the requirements of the Administrative Process Act (APA) to repeal the Regulations Governing Textbooks – Free or Rentals Systems State Aid (8 VAC 20-190-10) and the Regulations Governing Student Insurance Programs (8 VAC 20-500-10). As the provisions of each are either covered elsewhere in statute, or are obsolete, the repeals are not expected to have any impact. The Board also approved proceeding with APA requirements to revise, amend and consolidate Regulations Governing School Boards Local, 8 VAC 20-490-10 et seq. The consolidation will include 14 separate regulatory sections, some of which have remained unchanged since 1980.

Regulations Governing Educational Services for Gifted Students (8 VAC 20-40-10 et seq.)
The board accepted for first review proposed changes to the Regulations Governing Educational Services for Gifted Students (8 VAC 20-40-10 et seq.). The proposed revised regulations include:

• Additions to and revisions of definitions for critical terms
• Realignment of aspects of the screening, referral, identification, and placement components of the 1993 regulations
• Additional of parental rights, notification, consent, and appeals information
• Revision of components of the local plan for the education of the gifted
• Revision of the role and function of the local advisory committee for the education of the gifted to comply with section 22.1-18.l of the Code of Virginia
• Addition of annual report expectations to comply with section 22.1-18.1 of the Code of Virginia

Resolution Granting the Superintendent of Public Instruction Authority to Act on Behalf of the Virginia Board of Education Regarding Supplemental Educational Services and Instructional Interventions Applications and Initial Appeals
The Board approved granting the Superintendent of Public Instruction authority to act on behalf of the Board regarding approval of the Supplemental Educational Services and instructional intervention applications and the initial appeal from providers whose applications were not approved.

Appeals Process for Supplemental Educational Services Providers Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
The Board accepted on first review a process for potential supplemental educational services (SES) providers to appeal to the Board of Education if their application has been denied by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, acting with authority delegated by the Board of Education. The proposed process outlines the steps the applicants should take if they do not agree with the decision of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to disapprove the application. The process describes: 1) the time frame for the individual submitting the appeal; 2) the procedure for considering the appeal; and 3) the time frame for consideration of the appeal.

Appeals Process for Instructional Interventions to Satisfy Provisions in Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia
The Board accepted on first review a process for potential providers of instructional interventions to appeal to the Board of Education if their application has been denied by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, acting with authority delegated by the Board of Education. The proposed process outlines the steps the applicants should take if they do not agree with the decision of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to disapprove the application. The process describes: 1) the time frame for the individual submitting the appeal; 2) the procedure for considering the appeal; and 3) the time frame for consideration of the appeal.

Guidelines for Schools for Students with Disabilities Fund
The Board accepted on first review guidelines for the Schools for Students with Disabilities Fund. The 2006 Appropriation Act established a provision, known as the Schools for Students with Disabilities Fund, whereby individuals or businesses may receive tax credits for contributions made to private schools for students with disabilities when the donations are for the purpose of providing tuition assistance for students to attend the school. The Appropriation Act language specified that the Board of Education is to issue guidelines for the administration of this program which is effective on July 1, 2007.

The guidelines contain the following elements:

• Grant Administration: Provisions for receiving donations and disbursing the monies to private schools
• Tax credit Administration: Provisions for awarding tax credits to donors
• Oversight and Recovery of Funds: Provisions for monitoring private schools' use of donated funds and for recovery of funds under applicable conditions

Consolidation of the Two Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
The Board agreed to enter into a conventional design contract and a construction manager at risk contract with assistance from the Department of General Services to continue the process of consolidating Virginia’s two schools for the deaf and or blind and multi-disabled students at Staunton and Hampton.

Board Planning Session
In its annual planning session, the Board identified key educational policy issues for the upcoming biennium, including:

• Career and technical education state plan and regulations – to include a five year Perkins state plan
• Special education regulations – to reconcile state regulation with new federal regulations under IDEA 2004
• Standards of Accreditation – to include graduation rates and graduation policies in the accountability system and to establish the technical diplomas for Career and Technical Education
• Standards of Learning – in history (2008), mathematics (2009), English (2010), and science (2010), followed by the curriculum framework and textbook adoption.
• Standards of Quality – to include review of policy issues addressing the needs of students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in 2007, and a comprehensive consideration of the SOQ in 2008.