INFORMATIONAL

  Please find attached the necessary information to apply for
  Standards of Learning Remediation Initiative funds. The one
  page application essentially certifies that the local division
  will provide remediation services in addition to the regular
  instructional time for students who fail one or more of the
  Standards of Learning (SOL) tests and will utilize teachers in
  the program who have received training in remediation
  techniques. Please note that these funds are specifically
  targeted for services to be provided to students who do not
  pass the SOL tests in grades 3, 5, 8 and end-of-course tests.
  You will not be able to identify nor provide services to this
  targeted group of students until you receive the revised test
  results, which include the cut scores, in the Fall, 1998.

  The General Assembly has funded numerous initiatives designed
  to prevent students from failing including:   the K-3 primary
  class size reduction program, the at-risk four-year-old
  program, the early intervention reading initiative, and the
  general at-risk funding pool.  Even with these successful
  programs, it is anticipated that many of Virginia's students
  will need additional academic support to successfully meet the
  higher, more rigorous academic standards as required by the
  SOL.  The SOL Remediation Initiative will provide school
  divisions with funding for additional instruction for students
  who do not pass the SOL tests as well as funding toward
  training assigned teachers in remediation techniques.

  As you know, several references in the Code of Virginia relate
  to the remediation of students. Specifically,  22.1-253.13.1C
  indicates "Division superintendents shall require such
  students to take special programs of  prevention, intervention

  or remediation which may include attendance in public
  summer school programs...."  "Such students" in the 1997
  Code referred to students "who are educationally at-risk
  but not limited to those who score in the bottom national
  quartile on the Virginia Assessment Program or who do not
  pass the literacy tests...." The 1998 General Assembly
  amended the Code to include students "who fail to achieve
  a passing score on any Standards of Learning
  assessment...." It is this later group of students that
  is the focus of these initiative funds.


  FUNDING:

  Basis for calculating the funding formula:

     The 1998 General Assembly provided $15,250,387 in the
       first year and $16,399,230 in the second year to fund the
       state's share of the cost of providing the equivalent of
       2.5 hours per week of additional instruction for an
       estimated number of students in each school division at
       a student to teacher ratio of 10:1.  "Additional" is to
       be interpreted as time additional to the regular school
       day and year.   In addition, the state's share of $500
       for each teacher assigned to remediate students was
       provided for staff development. This number of teachers
       was calculated using the anticipated number of students
       needing services based upon a free lunch formula and a
       1:10 ratio.  Calculated division allocations, whose
       monies will be available upon approval of the enclosed
       application, are shown in Attachment B.  

     Divisions choosing to participate will receive incentive
       payments based upon the percent of students certified as
       eligible for free lunch multiplied by the number of
       students in grades 4, 6, 9, and 11.  Localities will be
       required to match these funds based upon the composite
       index of local ability-to-pay.


  Although funding has been based upon the free lunch count and
  providing 2.5 hours per week of additional instruction in a
  10:1 ratio, actual implementation services are not limited to
  students on free lunch nor to 2.5 hours per week. The intent
  is to provide remediation for those students who fail one or
  more of the Standards of Learning tests in compliance with
  22.1-253.13.1C using a locally designed remediation program
  which provides the necessary hours of additional instruction
  to enable students to pass the SOL tests.

  School divisions may design their own instructional models to
  provide these remediation services consistent with their
  current academic program and staff availability. The
  requirements for receiving the incentive funds are outlined on
  the "Superintendent's Certification and Application"
  (Attachment A).

  For additional information, please contact Dr. James Heywood,
  Director, Office of Elementary and Middle School Instructional
  Services, at (804) 225-2865.


  PDS/pl

  Attachments: A hard copy of this memo and its attachments
                 will be sent to the superintendent's office

                                          Supts. Memo. No.   83 
                                                   Attachment A 



               SOL Remediation Initiative Funds


     Please return this form to the Department of Education by
       July 1, 1998 in order for the allocated funds to be
       released to your school division as soon as possible. 
       Although funds will be released upon receipt of this
       application at any time, funding will be delayed for
       applications received after July 1.

                 Attention: James S. Heywood
                   [Fax:   (804) 786-1703]


        Superintendent's Certification and Application


  The division plans to participate in the SOL Remediation
  Initiative and will ensure that the following conditions are
  met in the implementation of the initiative.

  (a)     the local match requirement has been met

  (b)     consistent with 22.1-253.13.1C, all students who fail one
            or more of the SOL assessment tests  given in grades 3,
            5, 8 and 11 as well as the end-of-course tests will be
            assigned to a  remediation program deemed appropriate by
            the division superintendent

  (c)     the remediation programs funded by this Initiative shall
            provide instructional time in addition to the regular
            instructional day and year. (i.e. before or after school,
            weekends or summer school)

  (d)     teachers utilized in these remediation programs funded by
            the Initiative will receive or have received training in
            remediation techniques.


  I certify that the above information is true and accurate to
  the best of my knowledge.




  ___________________________
  Signature -- Division
  Superintendent
  ___________________________
    School Division