Board of Education Seeks Public Comment on
Standards of Quality

The Board of Education has scheduled a series of meetings to hear comments from citizens on the needs, priorities, and programs in public schools across the state. The purpose of the hearings is to seek comment from the public about proposed revisions to the Standards of Quality (SOQ), which define what constitutes a basic quality education in Virginia.

Each of the public meetings will begin at 7 p.m. Registration of speakers will begin at 6:30 p.m. In order to give all citizens in attendance an opportunity to speak, each speaker is asked to limit his or her comments to three minutes. Speakers are encouraged to provide a written copy of their comments. Written comments may contain more detail than the three-minute public presentation. Where possible, speakers are asked to identify the standard(s) they are addressing.

The Board also accepts written comment by mail, fax, or e-mail. Comments may be sent by October 15, 2004, to Margaret N. Roberts, executive assistant to the Board of Education, Post Office Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120; telephone 804/225-2924; fax: 804/225-2524; e-mail: mroberts@mail.vak12ed.edu. Where possible, correspondents are asked to identify the standard(s) they are addressing.

For a copy of the proposed revisions to the SOQ, please visit this page on the Virginia Department of Education website: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/NewHome/pressreleases/
SOQrevisions-092204.pdf

The dates and locations of the meetings are listed below.

For more information, contact: Margaret Roberts, executive assistant to the Board of Education, at 804/225-2924 or 804/225-2540; mroberts@mail.vak12ed.edu

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