INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

FROM:

Jo Lynne DeMary

Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:

Informational Workshops on the Implementation of Programs for Community Service for Suspended/Expelled Students

Dealing with the ramifications of suspended or expelled students is a challenge for communities and school divisions. The accountability for the continued education of this specific student population has continued to increase. Schools and communities alike are well aware that resolving issues around suspensions or expulsions does not rest with the school alone, but with the community as a whole.

In January 2002, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act. Section 4126 of Title IV authorized the new Community Service for Suspended/Expelled Students Grant Program. The U.S. Department of Education allocated $50 million to states to implement programs of community service for suspended/expelled students. The Commonwealth of Virginia received $970,000 for fiscal years 2003-04 and 2004-05. Through a request for proposals and review process, 18 divisions in the commonwealth were awarded contracts in the fall of 2003 to implement programs with four components for suspended/expelled students: academic support, parent information, community service, and counseling. With limited funding, the contract sites have successfully implemented diverse, creative approaches to meeting the needs of this at-risk population in their communities. The successes of the programs are notable and are excellent models for other communities and schools to consider for adoption.

To provide information for consideration of program implementation of community service for suspended or expelled students, five regional workshops will be offered in a collaborative effort involving the Virginia Department of Education, Office of Student Services and the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for School-Community Collaboration. Each informational workshop will highlight and feature three program sites that have been successful during their two years of serving suspended or expelled students. Representatives from each of the three community service program sites will outline in detail the unique aspects of their programs, as well as explain roadblocks they faced and their creative means of meeting those challenges.

Workshop Dates and Locations:

Workshop I - Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Holiday Inn Select

2801 Plank Road

Fredericksburg, VA 22401

540-786-8321

Workshop II - Monday, March 21, 2005

Omni Newport News Hotel

1000 Omni Boulevard

Newport News, VA 23606

757-591-3516

Workshop III - Thursday, April 14, 2005

Ramada Inn Wytheville

955 Peppers Ferry Road

Wytheville, VA 24382

276-228-6000

Workshop IV - Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Longwood University

Dorrill Dining Hall

Nance Room

201 High Street

Farmville, VA 23909

434-395-2000

($2.00 parking fee)

Workshop V - Tuesday, April 25, 2005

Doubletree Hotel

990 Hilton Heights Road

Charlottesville, VA 22901

434-973-2121

Each workshop will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and end at 1:30 p.m. with a question/answer session after lunch. There is no charge for the workshop. The registration deadline is one week prior to the workshop. A workshop confirmation and driving directions will be e-mailed to each participant.

Participants for these workshops include school administrators, school counselors, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program Coordinators, court services unit representatives, social workers, central office personnel, community services board representatives, and community leaders who have a vested interest in establishing successful community service programs for students who have been suspended or expelled.

A registration form is attached. If you have any questions about the workshops, please contact Leslie Cox, Center for School Community Collaboration, Virginia Commonwealth University at coxly@vcu.edu , (804)828-1482 or Arlene Cundiff, at Arlene.Cundiff@doe.virginia.gov , (804)225-2871.

JLD/ADC/erc

Attachment

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2005/inf042a.doc