Excellence in Civics Education Seal

To earn a Board of Education Diploma Seal for Excellence in Civics Education a student must meet each of the following four criteria: 1) Satisfy the requirement to earn a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma; AND 2) Complete Virginia and United States History and Virginia and United States Government courses with a grade of "B" or higher; AND 3) Complete 50 hours of voluntary participation in community service or extracurricular activities. Activities that would count include: a) Volunteering for a charitable or religious organization that provides services to the poor, sick, or less fortunate; b) Participating in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or similar youth organizations; c) Participating in JROTC; d) Participating in political campaigns or government internships, or Boys State, Girls State, or Model General Assembly; and e) Participating in school-sponsored extracurricular activities that have a civics focus. Any student who enlists in the United States military prior to graduation will be deemed to have met this community service requirement; AND 4) Have good attendance and no disciplinary infractions as determined by local school board policies. Please view the following Web link for additional information: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/VA_Board/resolutions/2003/2003-26.html

(NOTE: The requirements in the 2006 SOA for seals take effect with the ninth-grade class of 2006-2007 and beyond. The requirements adopted in the 2000 SOA for the ninth-grade classes of 2001 through 2005, as stated here, will remain in effect for the graduating classes of 2007, 2008, and 2009.)

2000 SOA

2006 SOA

An explanation of all seal requirements can also be found on Page 10 of the Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools In Virginia.