INFORMATIONAL

  The Department of Education will assist school divisions in
  complying with the Standard of Accreditation,  8 VAC 20-131-270,
  School and Community Communications" by printing copies of the
  Standards of Learning, the state graduation requirements and the
  1998-99 testing schedule to be distributed to each school
  division.  The standard, found on page 24 of the SOA booklet,
  requires local divisions to provide students, parents, or
  guardians with:

             E.2   "a copy of the Standards of Learning applicable to
  the child's grade or course requirements and the approximate date
  and potential impact of the child's next SOL testing;" and 

             E.3   "annual notice to students at all grade levels of
  all requirements for Standard and Advanced Studies diplomas."


  If a local division has graduation requirements which exceed
  those of the state, it will be the division's responsibility to
  inform parents of these additional requirements. It also will be
  the responsibility of each division to comply with SOA E.1 which
  requires that each school provide academic objectives to be
  achieved at the child's grade level, or, in high school, a copy
  of the syllabus for each child's courses.

  The materials from the Department of Education will be mailed to
  each division in time for distribution in the fall. While
  details of this distribution have yet to be determined, early
  notice of this service is being provided in recognition of the
  fact that some divisions may be planning to print multiple
  copies of the Standards of Learning for distribution to parents.
  We hope to continue to provide this service annually.

  For additional information, please contact Dr. Jo Lynne DeMary,
  Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, at (804) 225-3252.


  PDS/pl