COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 37

July 11, 2003

ADMINISTRATIVE

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	2002-2003 Annual Report on Discipline, Crime, and Violence

The purpose of this memo is to provide information for submitting data on discipline, crime, and violence in public schools for the 2002-2003 school year. Data should be submitted for the 365-day period starting with the first day of your 2002-2003 school year. Data submitted shall meet the reporting requirements for the following:

Safety indicators for the state School Performance Report Card (Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia 8 VAC 20-131-270)

State crime and violence data as required in 22.1-279.3:1, Code of Virginia

Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) report on suspension and expulsion of students with disabilities

Federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq. as amended by No Child Left Behind Act 4001 et seq.)

Federal Gun-Free Schools Act (20 U.S.C. 7151 as amended by No Child Left Behind Act 4141 et seq.)

State and federal mandates necessitate that all incidents involving required codes, regardless of the sanction imposed at the division level, must be reported. All codes involving suspension and expulsion also must be reported.

The data may be maintained locally through any chosen method. However, school divisions should compile the data using either the Excel workbook or a system-generated ASCII flat file. School divisions are required to combine data from all schools into one text file before they are submitted; no files from individual schools will be accepted. The process to follow for Web submission is outlined in the Data Collection Instructions. Information related to this data collection process can be downloaded from the Department of Educations website at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Publications/Discipline/
datacoll/2002-2003/coll02.htm

All data should be submitted electronically to the Department of Education (DOE) on or before Monday, September 15, 2003. Discipline contacts may begin submitting data on Monday, August 4, 2003.

Questions regarding the use of the Excel spreadsheet, ASCII flat file, or the submission of the file should be directed to (mailto: discipline@pen.k12.va.us) or to Joyce Martin at (804) 225-2966. Other questions related to the 2002-2003 Annual Report on Discipline, Crime, and Violence should be directed to Marsha Owens at (804) 225-2928 or (mailto: mowens@mail.vak12ed.edu).

JLD/dmb