INFORMATIONAL

Enclosed are the informational materials pertaining to the 1996-97
Title II Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program
application. Eisenhower funds are distributed on a formula basis to
school divisions for the primary purpose of providing professional
development activities to teachers and other professional staff in
support of the implementation of the Standards of Learning. 

The accompanying materials describe the Eisenhower program and
provide instructions regarding the application procedure. Included
in this package are the 1996-97 Application form (Form B), the
Needs Assessment/Three-Year Plan form for English and History, and
a listing of entitlements by school divisions.  All school
divisions applying for Eisenhower funds must complete the 1996-1997
Application (Form B).

This past summer, the Department of Education requested and
received approval for a three-year waiver of section 2206(b) of the
Title II Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  The waiver
permits the Virginia Department of Education to use Eisenhower
Professional Development funds to support activities for the four
Standards of Learning core discipline areas: mathematics, science,
history, and English.  This waiver is effective through the 
1998-1999 school year.  

The law requires that a Professional Development Needs Assessment
and Three-Year Eisenhower Staff Development Plan be approved before
Eisenhower funds are used for staff development to implement the
English and history Standards of Learning. This can be accomplished
by completing the enclosed Needs Assessment/Three-Year Staff
Development Plan for English and History and the Social Sciences
(Form A), or by developing a narrative describing the results of a
needs assessment correlated to a three-year plan (see guidelines). 


School divisions who received a 1995-96 Eisenhower grant, have
already submitted a Professional Development Needs Assessment and
Three-Year Eisenhower Staff Development Plan for mathematics and
science. This plan may remain in effect though the 1997-98 school
year, or may be modified by the LEA to accommodate the intent of
the waiver. The modification may include an extension through the
1998-1999 school year to align with a three-year plan for history
and English.  

To receive funding, please submit the following by January 15,
1997:
     two copies of the 1996-1997 Application (Form B), which
     includes a General Information Form (Form B-1a and Form B-1b),
     Project Description (Form B-2), and Budget  (Form B-3), 
     where appropriate, one copy of the optional Needs
     Assessment/Three-Year Staff Development Plan for English and
     History and the Social Sciences (Form A), and,
     where appropriate, one copy of any significant modification(s)
     and/or extension (through 1998-99) to the Eisenhower Needs
     Assessment/Three-Year Staff Development Plan for Mathematics
     and Science that was previously submitted.

Submit the items to:
Dr. Carol L. Rezba, Mathematics Specialist and Eisenhower Program
Coordinator
Virginia Department of Education
P. O. Box 2120
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120

Should you have any questions or need additional information,
please call Carol Rezba at (804) 225-2676. 

RTL/clr
Enclosures:      This memo and it enclosures will be sent to the
                 superintendent's office.

c:   Eisenhower Project Directors