COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P. O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO. NO. 26
May 3, 1996

ADMINISTRATIVE

TO: Division Superintendents
FROM:
 		 William C. Bosher, Jr.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:
 
 		 Collection of Data Relative to Compliance with the 
Standards of Quality for Public Schools in Virginia 
for 1995-96

  
By November 15 of each year, the Board of Education is required to
submit a report to the General Assembly on the condition and needs
of public education in Virginia pursuant to 22.1-18 of the Code
of Virginia.  As a part of the report, the Board is required to
include the status of compliance by local school boards with the
requirements of the Standards of Quality (SOQ).

In order for the Board to fulfill its reporting requirement, I am
requesting that you review the standards and the indicators found
in Attachment B and report the level of your division's compliance
on the form found in Attachment A.  If there are items with which
you do not currently comply, a brief corrective action plan for
achieving compliance must be included with your response.  Because
the requirements of the SOQ are addressed to the Board of Education
and local school boards, we are asking that the report be co-signed
by the Chairman of your board.  Please return Attachment A with any
required corrective action plans no later than May 31, 1996.

The information being requested is not available to the Department
of Education from other sources.  In addition to the above purpose,
the information will allow us to assist you in your efforts to
comply with all applicable standards. If you have questions, please
do not hesitate to contact Charles W. Finley, Policy Associate,
Division of Policy and Public Affairs, at (804) 225-2747 or via
VaPEN to cfinley@pen.k12.va.us.


WCBJr/cwf
Attachments:   This memo and its attachment will be sent to the
               superintendent's office.