The 2000 General Assembly included language in the appropriation act that requires school divisions to certify that no tuition is assessed students for Governor’s Schools or Foreign Language Academies. "Out of the amounts for Governor’s School Payments, the Board of Education shall provide assistance for the state share of the incremental cost of regular school year Governor’s Schools based on each participating locality’s composite index of local ability to pay. Participating school divisions must certify that no tuition is assessed students for participation in this program." (Item 146, A.1, Chapter 1073, 2000 Acts of the Assembly)

Additional language specifies that no tuition may be charged public school students who participate in the Summer Residential Governor’s Schools or the Foreign Language Academies. "Out of the amounts for Governor’s School Payments, the Board of Education shall provide assistance for the state share of the incremental cost of summer residential Governor’s Schools and Foreign Language Academies to be based on the greater of the composite index or fifty percent. Participating school divisions must certify that no tuition is assessed students for participation in this program if they are enrolled in a public school." (Item 146, A.2, Chapter 1073, 2000 Acts of the Assembly)

A form is attached that superintendents must complete certifying that these programs are tuition-free. Please

return the attachment to Barbara McGonagill, Virginia Department of Education, P. O. Box 2120, Office of Secondary

Instructional Services, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120 by September 20, 2001. For further information, you may call Dr. McGonagill bmcgonag@pen.k12.va.us, specialist, Governor’s Schools and gifted education, at (804) 225-2884.

JLD/bkm

Attachment
/administrators/superintendents_memos/2001/adm045a.pdf