COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 2

December 20, 2002

INTERPRETIVE

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Interpretation of Regulations for Certain Transfer Students

In the Regulations for Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia 8 VAC 20–131-50 it states that the requirements for a student to earn a diploma from a Virginia high school shall be those in effect when that student enters the ninth grade for the first time. There has been some confusion regarding the interpretation of the regulations as it pertains to students who may have entered a Virginia public high school in ninth grade, transferred to another state, and returned to a Virginia public high school in eleventh or twelfth grade and intend to graduate. Graduation requirements for students entering a Virginia public high school for the first time is stated in 8 VAC 20-131-60 F. Students entering a Virginia high school for the first time during eleventh grade or at the beginning of the twelfth grade shall earn a minimum of two verified credits for the Standard diploma: one in English and one of the student’s choosing. The “first time” refers to the first time in a Virginia public high school in that grade regardless of where the student attended school in the ninth grade. Therefore, a student who entered a Virginia public high school in the ninth grade, transferred to another state, and returned to a Virginia public high school in eleventh or twelfth grade would meet the criteria of 8 VAC 20-131-60 F.

If you need additional assistance, please contact Dr. Cheri C. Magill(cmagill@mail.vak12ed.edu), director, Office of Accreditation, at (804) 225-2708, Maureen B. Hijar (mhijar@mail.vak12ed.edu), director, Office of Secondary Instructional Services, at (804) 225-2894, or Sylinda Gilchrist (sgilchri@mail.vak12ed.edu), specialist, school counseling, at (804) 786-9377.

JLD/mh