INFORMATIONAL

  Recently, the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and
  Licensure (ABTEL) focused on a procedure and timeframe for
  continuing the collection of data for consideration by the
  Board of Education to reduce the current number of
  endorsements for teachers and other instructional personnel. 
  The Advisory Board members formed sub-committees and were
  given the task of consulting with school personnel,
  professional organizations, parents and community leaders,
  institutions of higher education personnel, and others to
  develop proposed requirements for the 47 endorsements
  presented to the Board of Education by the 1995-96 Advisory
  Board.
  
  The sub-committees will coordinate the development of
  proposed requirements based on comments and suggestions
  received on the 47 endorsement areas; Virginia's K-12
  Standards of Learning, national guidelines for various
  teaching and instructional areas; and the current
  endorsement requirements contained in the publication,
  Licensure Regulations for School Personnel, July 1, 1993. 
  The Advisory Board members anticipate that a draft report on
  the reduced number of endorsements and requirements will be
  compiled by the first of December.  After action by the
  Board of Education, the newly-proposed school personnel
  endorsements and requirements will undergo the required
  Administrative Process Act (APA), which includes a public
  comment period. 
  
  Attached is a chart outlining the current licensure
  endorsements, endorsements recommended to be discontinued,
  the Advisory Board's recommended endorsements, and possible
  options for further reductions.  Your comments and proposed 
  
  Division Superintendents
  October 4, 1996
  Page 2
  
  
  
  requirements on the Advisory Board's recommended
  endorsements, as well as the possible options for further
  reductions, will be appreciated.
  
  The Advisory Board is seeking comments from a variety of
  audiences to determine what requirements would be
  appropriate for a licensing system to support the
  achievement of high standards by teachers and students. 
  Your comments regarding the requirements or criteria for the
  suggested endorsements will be helpful in developing a
  proposal for the Board of Education.  If you submitted
  requirements with your comments 
  on the proposed endorsements last year, they will be
  considered by the Advisory Board and it will not be
  necessary to resubmit them.  
  
  In order to compile a draft document by the first of
  December, we are requesting that you please send or fax any
  additional comments on or before November 8, 1996,to: Regina
  F. Thomas, Executive Secretary, Division for Compliance,
  Department of Education, P. O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120,
  [fax number: (804) 225-2831; Virginia Pen
  address:rfthomas @pen.k12.va.us.].
  
  Thank you for your continued support of this important
  initiative.  If you have any questions or require additional
  information, please do not hesitate to contact Thomas A.
  Elliott, Division Chief for Compliance, at (804) 371-2522 or
  Patty S. Pitts, Manager for Professional Licensure, at (804)
  225-2022.  
  
  RLP/rt
  
  Enclosure:   This memo and its enclosure will be sent to
               the superintendent's office.
  
  c: Members, Advisory Board on Teacher Education and
     Licensure (ABTEL)
     Teacher Preparation Institutions
     Professional Organizations
     Accredited Non-Public Schools