COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 65
March 25, 2005
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Home Instruction Update |
Attached is
an updated list of correspondence schools whose courses may be used to comply
with Section
22.1-254.1 (A), Option (iii) of the Code
of Virginiapertaining to home instruction. This list includes the addition of a new program, K-12, Inc. of
McLean, Virginia. The list may be
updated periodically. It should be made
available to parents or other interested persons upon request.
Parents who
wish to use courses offered by a school that is not on the list should contact
the school and request the names of the appropriate officials to obtain
information from the Department of Education.
As an alternative, they may submit the curriculum to your office for review
in accordance with the requirements of Option
(iv) of Section 22.1-254.1 (A) of the Code of Virginia.
The list
identifies schools that are accredited by a regional or national accrediting
agency recognized by the U. S. Department of Education, and sets restrictions
on the use of courses offered by some schools.
Please note
that Informational
Superintendents Memorandum 119, dated July 25, 2003, notified division
superintendents that driver education courses offered by several schools in
prior years have been removed from the list because the programs no longer meet
the requirements for driver education programs in Virginia. Other courses may be restored or added to
the list when it has been determined that they are in compliance with our
requirements.
We have had
inquiries concerning the courses offered by these schools from students
enrolled in Virginias public schools for the purpose of earning credit for
graduation. While the Regulations
Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia permit
students to earn credit through the use of correspondence courses and other
emerging technologies in 8 VAC
20-131-180.B. and C., the approval of these courses should not be construed
as an automatic authorization of their use for that purpose. The content of the courses offered by these
schools has not been reviewed for correlation with the content of the Standards
of Learning. Principals should take
steps to ensure that the courses students take for this purpose include content
that, at a minimum, substantially correlates with the standards, where
appropriate, and that policies adopted by a local school board have been
addressed prior to allowing students to use courses offered by these schools to
earn credit toward graduation.
Finally, we
frequently have inquiries from parents who wish to home school their child
for one subject while that child remains enrolled in a public school. This is not considered home schooling
because the student is enrolled in school.
The provisions outlined in 8 VAC 20-131-180.B. or C. of the standards
may be used, depending on the local policy adopted as required by the standard.
Questions
regarding this information should be directed to the Division of Policy and
Communications, at (804) 225-2092 or mailto:policy@doe.virginia.gov.
JLD/CWF/cb
Attachment
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2005/inf065a.pdf