COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 167
November 30, 2001
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Alternative Accreditation Plans for Special Purpose Schools |
The
Regulations Establishing Standards for
Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia, in 8 VAC 20-131-280.D. state:
Special
purpose schools such as regional, special education, alternative, or career and
technical schools that serve as the student's school of principal enrollment
shall be evaluated on standards appropriate to the programs offered in the
school and approved by the Board prior to August 1 of the school year for which
approval is requested. Any student graduating from a special purpose school
with a Standard, Advanced Studies, or Modified Standard Diploma must meet the
requirements prescribed in 8 VAC 20-131-50.
To implement this regulation, guidelines adopted by the Board of Education permit local school boards to submit alternative accreditation plans that describe how the school should be accredited. While we have no history of working with alternative accreditation plans, as a starting point we have developed some protocols and identified some information we think the Board of Education will want to review in addition to any supporting information the local school board deems appropriate when plans are submitted. That information is found in Attachment A.
Questions
regarding alternative accreditation plans should be directed to Mr. Charles W.
Finley, assistant superintendent for accountability services, by phone at (804)
786-9421 or by e-mail to cfinley@pen.k12.va.us.
JLD/cwf
Attachment