DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO.
25
June 22, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Division-Level
Academic Reviews |
The Code of Virginia, in 22.1-16, vests the Board of Education with
the authority to promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out
its powers and duties and the provisions of Title 22.1. House Bill 1294 passed by the General
Assembly and signed into law on April 15, 2004, gave the Board of Education the
authority to require a division-level academic review in school divisions where
findings of a school-level academic review showed that the failure of the
schools to reach full accreditation was related to the local school boards
failure to meet its responsibilities under the Standards of Quality, Code of Virginia, 22.1-253.13:1
through 22.1-253.13:8.
House Bill 1294 also required
that the Board of Education promulgate regulations to implement the provisions
of this act to be effective within 280 days of its enactment. The Board of
Education promulgated emergency regulations as a result of this
requirement. These emergency regulations
expired on February 15, 2006. In
September 2005, the Board of Education submitted proposed regulations to
replace the emergency regulations.
During the October 25, 2006 meeting of the Board of Education, the Board
adopted the proposed language of the Regulations
for Conducting Division-Level Academic Review, 8 VAC
20-700-10 et seq., and
directed the Department of Education to proceed with the final stages of the
administrative process. The final
regulations, 8 VAC 20-700-10 et seq., were approved on
February 15, 2007.
As indicated in the
attached regulations, the Board of Education shall consider the following
criteria in selecting school divisions for division-level academic reviews: the school
divisions accountability determination for student achievement, as required in
federal law; the percentage of students attending schools that are not fully
accredited in the division exceeds the statewide average; and school academic review findings in the division report the
failure of the divisions schools to reach full accreditation is related to the
school boards noncompliance with the Standards of Quality.
The Department will use the accreditation ratings
and pass rates of the divisions schools based on Standards of Learning
assessments in the 2006-2007 academic year and the findings from the academic
reviews completed in 2006-2007 to consider school divisions for division-level
review.
All division-level academic reviews shall be
conducted in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Education,
which may include, but not be limited to: on-site reviews; interviews of school
division personnel; review and observation of operational practices; and, the
analysis of data related to compliance with state and federal laws and
regulations. The Department of Education is authorized to contract with organizations or
agencies to conduct division-level academic reviews. Reports of the
academic review findings shall be given to the division superintendent, the
chair of the local school board, and the Board of Education.
If you should have any questions regarding the
division-level academic review process, please contact Kathleen Smith,
director, Office of School Improvement, at (804) 225-2865 or by e-mail to Kathleen.Smith@doe.virginia.gov.
BKCJr/KMS/pl
Attachment
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2007/adm025a.pdf