COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 129
June 23, 2006
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Patricia I.
Wright Acting
Superintendent of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Transmittal
of Statement of Administrative Impact and Project Costs of Implementation
for the Promulgation of the Regulations for Conducting Division-Level
Academic Reviews and the
Regulations Governing the Process for Submitting Proposals to Consolidate
School Divisions |
As part of its responsibility for promulgating new
regulations or revisions to existing regulations, the Board of Education is
required to develop a statement of the administrative impact and projected cost
to school divisions of implementing and complying with such regulations. The board and the Department of Education are
required to send a copy of the statement to each division superintendent.
House Bill 1294, passed by the 2004 General
Assembly, gave the Board of Education the authority to require division-level
academic reviews in school divisions where findings of school-level academic
reviews show that the failure of the school to reach full accreditation is
related to the local school boards failure to meet its responsibilities under
the Standards of Quality. The Board of
Education promulgated emergency regulations in response to the requirements of
the bill. The proposed regulations do
not deviate substantially from the provisions of the emergency regulations.
House Bill 978, also passed by the 2004 General
Assembly, amended 22.1-25 of the Code of Virginia to direct the Board of
Education to promulgate regulations providing for a process by which school
divisions may submit proposals for consolidation. Section 22.1-25, as amended, stipulates the
information and data to be submitted by school divisions in their proposals for
consolidation, the criteria that must be considered by the Board of Education
in reviewing the proposals and a process for public participation in the process. The proposed regulations include additional
administration and consolidation process requirements.
The full text of both of the proposed regulations is
attached.
The Regulations
for Conducting Division-Level Academic Reviews are essential to provide the
structure for the Board of Education and staff of the Department of Education
for the orderly conduct of division-level academic reviews in selected school
divisions that have underperforming schools or fail to meet the requirements of
the Standards of Quality. The
regulations outline the process and procedures for conducting the
division-level academic reviews and for local school boards to submit a
corrective action plan to the Board of Education. In addition, they define some flexibility for
options for reviews to be conducted by agencies or organizations other than the
Department of Education when appropriate.
The administrative impact and the costs to the state
to implement the regulation will vary from year to year depending on the number
of school divisions identified for review and the size and scope of the
review. The administrative impact and
costs to local school divisions to implement the regulation will vary depending
on the need for corrective action on the part of the local school division.
The Regulations
Governing the Process for Submitting Proposals to Consolidate School Divisions
are required by 22.1-25 of the Code of Virginia. Their purpose is to provide a process whereby
school divisions may submit proposals for the consolidation of school
divisions. The substantive provisions
include the required components of school division consolidation proposals, the
criteria that the Board of Education must consider in determining appropriate
school divisions for consolidation, timelines for required submission of the
request for consolidation and notification by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction and an opportunity for public comment on the proposed
consolidation.
The administrative impact and the costs to the state
to implement the regulation cannot be quantified. Consequently, the fiscal impact of proposed
consolidations would be examined on a case-by-case basis. The administrative
impact and the costs to local school divisions to implement the regulation also
cannot be quantified. However, it is assumed that costs will be incurred by
local school divisions related to the development of consolidation proposals
and public hearings related to the proposals.
If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Vucci, director of policy, at (804) 371-0558, or mail to: policy@doe.virginia.gov.
PIW/MJP/jcj
Attachments
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2006/inf129a.pdf
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2006/inf129b.pdf