INFORMATIONAL

Since mid-1998, we have worked very closely with school 
divisions to acquire data concerning the divisions' Year 
2000 Readiness status.  As part of this partnership, we 
have received a number of phone calls asking for advice 
on Year 2000 planning.

Soon you will be receiving a Year 2000 planning document, 
"Squashing the Millennium Bug:  Year 2000 Guide for 
Elementary and Secondary Schools and School Districts," 
which has been prepared by the Council of Great City 
Schools and the U.S. Department of Education.  This guide 
is an extremely well-written explanation of the Year 2000 
problem, planning phases, and specific "how-to" methods 
to plan, track, and test for known Year 2000 issues.  
Additionally, the guide is replete with sample forms, 
letters, and practical steps to guide you through this 
endeavor, and includes references to websites that 
contain lists of vendors, products, and their Y2K 
compliance.

The Virginia Department of Education is confident you 
will find this guide is a valuable tool which can either 
serve as a guideline or augment your current process.  If 
you do not receive your copy, you may print it from the 
Web at www.ed.gov/y2k/ and click on "How-to."

If additional information is needed, please contact 
Dennis Weiss, Year 2000 Coordinator, at 804/225-2941.

PDS/DJW/mwc