Superintendent's Memo #340-09
COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education
December 18, 2009
TO: Division Superintendents
FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT: Tuition Certification for Governor's Schools and Foreign Language Academies
Item 140, paragraph C.30.a, Chapter 781, of the 2009 Acts of Assembly (Appropriation Act) requires that school divisions certify that no tuition is assessed students to attend Academic-Year Governor’s Schools:
“a. Out of the amounts for Governor's School Payments, the Department of Education shall provide assistance for the state share of the incremental cost of regular school year Governor's Schools based on each participating locality's composite index of local ability-to-pay. Participating school divisions must certify that no tuition is assessed students for participation in this program.”
Item 140, paragraph C.30.b of the Appropriation Act further specifies that no tuition may be charged to public school students who participate in the Summer Residential Governor’s Schools or the Foreign Language Academies:
“b. Out of the amounts for Governor's School Payments, the Department of Education shall provide assistance for the state share of the incremental cost of summer residential Governor's Schools and Foreign Language Academies to be based on the greater of the state's share of the composite index of local ability-to-pay or 50 percent. Participating school divisions must certify that no tuition is assessed students for participation in this program if they are enrolled in a public school.”
A certification form is provided as Attachment A to this memorandum. Please complete this form to certify that Academic-Year Governor’s Schools, Summer Residential Governor’s Schools, and Foreign Language Academies are tuition-free for students enrolled in public schools. Please return the signed certification form by Friday, January 29, 2010, to the following address:
Donna L. Poland, Ph.D.
Specialist, Governor’s Schools and Gifted Education
Virginia Department of Education
P. O. Box 2120
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120
For additional information, please contact Dr. Poland by e-mail at Donna.Poland@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 225-2884.
PIW/DP/yba
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