ADMINISTRATIVE

  At the request of the 1997 General Assembly, the Department
  of Education, in cooperation with the Departments of Health
  and Medical Assistance Services, is developing a monitoring
  system to identify certain medically fragile students
  (Budget Act, Item 131 G).  The system will identify students
  with one or more conditions requiring continuous, on-going
  specialized health care procedures living in a licensed
  nursing home or long-stay acute care hospital whose parent
  or legal guardian is a resident of Virginia and for whom
  Virginia has an educational responsibility.  

  In order to meet the objectives of this request, the
  Department is surveying local school divisions, licensed
  nursing homes,  long-stay acute care hospitals, Intermediate
  Care Facilities/Mental Retardation (ICF/MR), and Part H
  Interagency Councils  to identify medically fragile students
  who meet these criteria.  Department staff will review the
  information from all sources to eliminate duplication.

  We are requesting your assistance in the completion of the
  enclosed survey form to provide us with information on
  students about whom you have knowledge.  The target
  population is defined as children who meet both of the
  following criteria:

          living in a licensed nursing home 
          OR
          living in a long-stay acute care hospital 
          OR
          intermediate care facility/mental retardation, AND

          requires continuous, on-going specialized health
  care procedures.

  The survey is gathering data on the students in the target
  population during the period September 1, 1996 through
  August 31, 1997.   Please complete the survey for all
  students known to the school division, whether the student
  lives in a facility that is located within the division or
  whether the parent or guardian lives in the division. 
  Include students who are in out-of-state placements.  We are
  enclosing a list of licensed nursing homes and long-stay
  acute hospitals.

  Please note that we need to hear from your school
  division/facility even if you have no knowledge of students
  who meet this criterion.  

  Return the survey to Gwen Smith, R.N., School Health
  Services Specialist, Virginia Department of Education, P.O.
  Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120 by December 15, 1997 (fax
  804/371-8796).    If you have any questions, please call Ms.
  Smith at (804) 786-8671.  Thank you for your assistance.



  RTL:lpd

  Enclosures:  A hard copy of this memo and its enclosures
                 will be sent to the superintendent's office.