DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 9
March 10, 2006
ADMINISTRATIVE
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Patricia
I. Wright Acting
Superintendent of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Diploma
Seals |
Regulations Establishing
Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia, September 28, 2000, contain provisions for
awards for exemplary performance for students who meet the requirements for
graduation as follows:
1. Students who complete the requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma with an average grade of "B" or better, and successfully complete at least one Advanced Placement course (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or one college-level course for credit will receive the Governor's Seal on the diploma.
2. Beginning with the ninth-grade class of 2000-01, students who complete the requirements for a Standard Diploma with an average grade of "A" will receive a Board of Education Seal on the diploma.
3. The Board of Education’s Career and Technical Education Seal will be awarded to students who earn a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma and complete a prescribed sequence of courses in a career and technical education concentration or specialization that they choose and maintain a "B" or better average in those courses; or (i) pass an examination in a career and technical education concentration or specialization that confers certification from a recognized industry, trade or professional association; or (ii) acquire a professional license in that career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Please view the following Web link for additional information: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/VA_Board/resolutions/2000/2000-12.html.
4. The Board of Education's Seal of Advanced Mathematics and Technology will be awarded to students who earn either a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma and (i) satisfy all of the mathematics requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma (four units of credit including Algebra II); two verified units of credit with a "B" average or better; and (ii) either (a) pass an examination in a career and technical education field that confers certification from a recognized industry, or trade or professional association; (b) acquire a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia; or (c) pass an examination approved by the Board of Education that confers college-level credit in a technology or computer science area. Please view the following Web links for additional information: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/VA_Board/resolutions/2000/2000-6.html and http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/VA_Board/resolutions/2001/2001-1.html.
5. 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
6. Students may receive other
seals or awards for exceptional academic, career and technical, citizenship, or
other exemplary performance in accordance with criteria defined by the local
school board.
Please
note that, as in the past, the Board of Education Seal and the Governor’s Seal
are not to be interchanged among diplomas and may only be used when the
conditions cited have been met. The seal
should be placed in the lower left quarter of the diploma. Students who earn the Board of Education Seal
or the Governor’s Seal may also earn the Career and Technical Education Seal,
the Advanced Mathematics and Technology Seal, or the Civics Education Seal.
Traditionally, seals have been
purchased and stored at the Department of Education. School superintendents are
required to submit a request for the number of seals of each type needed for
that year’s graduating class. A form is
enclosed for your use to request seals for the 2006 school year graduates. Your orders should be sent as soon as
possible, but not later than April 14, 2006.
Local
school boards determine the design and use of other seals. The department can only make available those
seals specifically outlined in this memorandum and does not have access to any
other seals used by local boards.
If you have questions, please contact
Ms. Patricia Hicks in the Division of Policy and Communications by phone at
(804) 225-2400 or by e-mail at: patricia.hicks@doe.virginia.gov.
PIW/ADW/jcj
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/suptsmemos/2006/adm009a.doc