COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 134
June 25, 2004
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Proposed Guidelines
for Alternatives to Dissection |
On June 23, 2004, the Virginia Board of
Education approved for first review a draft of Proposed Guidelines for Alternatives to Dissection. This was pursuant to House Bill 1018 of the
2004 General Assembly that amended the Code of Virginia to include
22.1-200.01 directing the Board of Education to establish guidelines to be
implemented by local school divisions regarding alternatives to animal
dissection. The Virginia Board of
Educations final review of the guidelines is scheduled for its July 21, 2004,
meeting in Richmond. The wording of the
General Assemblys legislation follows:
22.1-200.01
Alternatives to animal dissection.
Local school divisions shall provide
students with alternatives to animal dissection techniques within the relevant
public school curriculum or course. The Board of Education shall establish
guidelines to be implemented by local school divisions regarding such
alternative dissection techniques. Such guidelines shall address, but shall not
be limited to, (i) the use of detailed models of animal anatomy and computer
simulations as alternatives to dissection; (ii) notification of students and
parents of the option to decline to participate in animal dissection; and (iii)
such other issues as the Board deems appropriate.
A copy of the Proposed Guidelines for Alternatives to Dissection is attached for
your review and comment. If you would
like to provide any general or specific feedback, please contact Eric Rhoades (erhoades@mail.vak12ed.edu),
science specialist, Office of Secondary Instructional Services, at (804) 225-2676 or Paula Klonowski (pklonows@mail.vak12ed.edu), science
specialist, Office of Middle Instructional Services, at (804) 371-0249 at your earliest convenience and prior
to July 7, 2004.
JLD/JCF/rt
Attachments