INFORMATIONAL

  The 1998 General Assembly agreed to House Joint Resolution 93
  which continued the Commission on Youth's study on Truants and
  Runaways.  As a result of its first year activities, the
  Commission's study identified a number of issues relating to
  how schools identify and deal with truants and provide
  educational options for them. To learn more from the experts
  in the field, the Commission is disseminating survey
  instruments to all division superintendents as well as high
  school and middle school principals, vocational education
  program directors, vocational education center principals, and
  GED Test Administrators.  Representatives from the State
  Department of Education and local educators were included in
  the work group of the Commission on Youth over the past two
  months to design the surveys.

  These surveys will be mailed during the first week in August
  with a return date of August 28. Information will be mailed
  with the surveys to provide the names of individuals who can
  respond to questions you may have.  I am writing to ask for
  your support and assistance in completing these surveys and
  that your staff return them by the due date.  The results of
  the surveys will be used to develop recommendations for the
  1999 General Assembly, and all respondents' answers are
  extremely important.

  I thank you in advance for working with the Commission on
  Youth and the General Assembly on this most important effort. 
  Please contact James A. Gray, Jr., Associate Director for
  Vocational Education, at 804/225-2833 if you have questions.

  PDS/sgj