COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 191

November 14, 2003

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Options for Earning Verified Credit for Graduation

In the spring of 2003, Governor Warner announced the four components of Project Graduation that were devised to assist students graduating in 2004 in earning required standard and verified credits under the 2+4 criteria in a variety of venues. The information in this memorandum reinforces information found on the Project Graduation page of the Department of Educations website. As you know, beginning with the graduating class of 2004, students must, for the first time, pass Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in order to graduate. In particular, students must pass the English: Reading and English: Writing tests or the Board of Educations approved substitute assessments, which typically are taken during the 11^th grade.

The following are options for students seeking the standard diploma to earn the four required student-selected verified credits to accompany the two English verified credits:

• Pass any four SOL tests from among the 10 tests in mathematics, science, or history/social science
• Pass any substitute test in mathematics, science, or history/social science from among those included on the Board of Educations approved list which can be found at /administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/inf079a.pdf

• Earn industry certification(s) from among those listed on the Board of Educations approved list which can be found at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/CTE/memos/seals/certifications.pdf
• Earn up to four locally awarded verified credits in science or history in accordance with Board of Education guidelines and local school board policy and procedures. The Board of Educations guidelines can be found at /administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/adm052a.pdf
• Pass any elective course in which the core academic SOL course content has been integrated, and pass the related end-of-course SOL test (see 8 VAC 20-131-110.B. of the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia adopted by the Board of Education, September 2000).
• Demonstrate mastery of course content and objectives in any course and pass the relevant SOL test upon the recommendation of the division superintendent to earn a verified credit without having to meet the 140-clock-hour instructional requirement (see 8 VAC 20-131-110.B. of the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia adopted by the Board of Education, September 2000).

Finally, please keep in mind that students who enroll in a Virginia public school after beginning the tenth grade or at the beginning of the eleventh grade may be able to earn a standard diploma with a reduced number of verified credits. Students who enter a public school from outside Virginia after the first 20 instructional hours of their senior year who cannot earn a reduced number of verified credits may be eligible for a waiver of the verified credit requirements. The guidelines for seeking a waiver can be found on pages 4 and 5 of the document on our website at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Accountability/SOAguidelines.pdf and additional information regarding transfer students can be found at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/2plus4in2004/hs-transfer2va.pdf.

Schools have an obligation to see that every students record is reviewed periodically to ensure that students and parents are aware of the students progress toward meeting the requirements for a diploma and that extra help is available if the student is not progressing. In addition, we hope you will encourage your guidance staff, students, and parents to review the information found on the Project Graduation page, which can be accessed directly from the main page of the Departments website at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/. Information is also available via the Project Graduation Hotline at 1-866-835-6039

Questions regarding SOL testing should be directed to Dr. Gordon Trump, director of assessment and reporting, at (804) 225-2102 or by e-mail to mailto:darfax@mail.vak12ed.edu. Questions regarding courses to satisfy graduation requirements should be directed to Ms. Maureen Hijar, director of secondary instruction, at (804) 225-2880 or by e-mail to mailto:instruction@mail.vak12ed.edu. Questions regarding the accrediting standards should be directed Dr. Cheri Magill, director of accreditation, at (804) 786-1062 or by e-mail to mailto:accredit@mail.vak12ed.edu.

JLD/cwf