SUPTS. MEMO NO. 184

September 29, 2000

INFORMATIONAL
 

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Transmittal of the 2000 Standards of Quality

The Standards of Quality (SOQ) represent the statutory framework that establishes the minimal requirements for educational programs in Virginia’s public schools. Significant changes were made to the SOQ during the 2000 General Assembly session. Attached is a copy of the current SOQ, §§ 22.1-253.13:1 through 22.1-253.13:8, as it now appears in the Code of Virginia. The revisions became effective July 1, 2000, unless otherwise indicated. Please note that there are two versions of Standards 1 and 3: a version effective until July 1, 2003; and another effective on July 1, 2003. Also attached is an outline of the amendments to the SOQ. The revisions in this document are shown in bold italics and strike-through. The number of the bill that was adopted to amend the Code is shown in parentheses.

Section 22.1-253.13:1, Standard 1, was amended to require the Board of Education:

• To ensure that revised educational objectives include proficiency in the use of computers and related technology;

• To establish by October 1, 2000, a regular schedule for the review and revision of the Standards of Learning (SOL) in all subject areas (The enactment clause provides that, by November 1, 2000, the Board of Education must begin the review process by concentrating its first cycle of review and revision on those standards linked to verified units of credit.);

• To establish a timetable for administering the SOL assessments to ensure genuine end-of-course and end-of-grade testing, in consultation with the chairpersons of the eight regional superintendents’ study groups;

• To make public the SOL assessments in a timely manner and as soon as possible following the administration of these tests, so long as this release does not compromise test security or deplete the bank of assessment questions necessary to construct subsequent tests;

• To provide local school divisions the option of administering separately SOL tests for United States History to 1877, United States History 1877 to the Present, and Civics and Economics, no later than July 1, 2002; and

• To supplement the SOL for social studies to ensure the study of the contributions to society of diverse people.

• To promulgate regulations establishing standards for accreditation which include requirements and guidelines for the integration of educational technology into instructional programs and staffing levels and positions, including staff positions for supporting educational technology;

• To establish the requirements for a standard or advanced studies diploma to include one credit in United States and Virginia history;

• To allow students completing an elective class into which the Standards of Learning have been integrated to take the relevant SOL assessment and receive a verified unit of credit upon passing;

• To establish criteria for an Advanced Mathematics and Technology Diploma Seal for the standard and advanced studies diplomas; and

• To establish a procedure that allows qualified students to obtain credit for a class upon demonstration of mastery of the course content and objectives without completing the 140-hour class, with the recommendation of the division superintendent. Having received credit for the course, the student may take the relevant SOL tests and earn a verified unit of credit with a passing score.

Sections 22.1-253.13:5, Standard 5, and 22.1-253.13:6, Standard 6, were amended to require the board:

• To ensure that all instructional personnel are proficient in the use of educational technology consistent with the Six-Year Educational Technology Plan for Virginia by providing technical assistance to local school boards; and

• To develop a six-year plan to integrate educational technology into the Standards of Learning and the curricula of the public schools in Virginia.

Section 22.1-253.13:1, Standard 1, was amended:

• To require local school boards to include proficiency in the use of computers and related technology in the development and implementation of programs of instruction for grades K through 12;

• To require local school boards to include knowledge of Virginia history and world and United States history in the development and implementation of programs of instruction for grades K through 12;

• To clarify that remediation must be provided to any student who does not pass any of the SOL tests in grades 3, 5, or 8;

• To clarify that a program of remediation, prevention, or intervention may be required for a student who passes one or more, but not all, of the SOL tests in grades 3, 5, or 8;

• To specify that summer school remediation programs or other forms of remediation must be chosen by the division superintendent to be appropriate to the academic needs of the student; and

• To require consultation with the division superintendent or his designee when a parent(s) selects a program of prevention, intervention, or remediation which is conducted by an accredited private school or which is determined to be comparable to the required public school remediation program.

• To require each local school board to facilitate integration of computer skills and related technology into the curricula within its program of professional development in educational technology for instructional personnel; and

• To require each local school board to integrate educational technology into the instructional programs of the school division.

JLD/SGP/gjm

Attachments

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2000/inf184a.pdf

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2000/inf184b.pdf