2011 General Assembly Update - Virginia Association of Secondary ...

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departments to ensure that identified teachers receive the training and certification opportunitiesnecessary for teachers to be ASE certified).JOINT RESOLUTIONSThe House of Delegates and the Senate often pass joint resolutions that give educators an ideaof General Assembly issues of importance. Two joint resolutions of interest were passed in the2011 session. The resolutions deal with year-round schools and anti-bullying policies.Year-Round Schools StudyThe Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) was directed to study the efficacyof year-round schools. Elements of the study were very prescriptive and directed JLARC to(i) review the Board of Education’s procedure for approving year-round schools; (ii) determinewhich school divisions have implemented year-round schools and evaluate their experience withthis alternative method of providing education; (iii) conduct a comprehensive analysis of eachyear-round school, including scheduling format, offerings of instructional and extracurricularprograms, and the enrollment in the year-round school; (iv) consider the minimum numberof required teaching days or hours that should constitute the length of a school term and theissues attendant thereto; (v) identify and review year-round schools offered by other statesand countries, noting advantages and disadvantages; (vi) ascertain and weigh the essentialfactors that must be considered before implementing year-round schools statewide, including,but not limited to, instructional costs, transportation and special education services, and theneed for additional classroom teachers, staff, and support services; (vii) evaluate the impact ofchanging the scheduling format on school functions, length of terms, and school breaks; and(viii) consider and thoroughly vet other issues and matters related to year-round schools asthe Commission may deem necessary to provide feasible and appropriate recommendations.(Editor’s Note: While the joint resolution does not mandate or encourage year-round schools,it does demonstrate interest by some members of the General Assembly to revisit the calendar.Principals are encouraged to monitor the work of the commission).Anti-bullying PoliciesThe General Assembly directed the Department of Education to study the anti-bullyingmeasures being implemented across the Commonwealth. Specifically, the DOE was directedto (i) review and compare anti-bullying measures in the student codes of conduct from eachschool division; (ii) compare existing policies with the Department’s model policy for codes ofstudent conduct; and (iii) determine if improvements to existing policies are warranted, in orderto more effectively combat bullying in Virginia’s public schools. The DOE is to complete itsstudy by November 30, 2011, and is to submit an executive summary and a report of its findingsand recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. (Editor’s Note: The issueof bullying continues to concern many educators and legislators. It is also becoming a complexlegal issue, especially with the rapid changes in technology and the ability to make anonymousthreats and statements. A recent article from the Charlottesville Daily Progress,(http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/jul/07/uva-study-bullying-top-concern-state-studentsar-1158890/)stated the following: “Bullying remains the top safety concern among Virginia’spublic school students, according to a statewide survey conducted by University of Virginiaresearchers. The Virginia School Safety Survey found that among the 737 elementary, middle,and high schools that gave students anonymous safety surveys, bullying emerged as students’main concern at all grade levels in 2009-10, the most recent data available. The study showedA PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, INC.Copyright © 2011 by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, Inc. All rights reserved.
that nearly 92 percent of those middle schools reported that their students were concerned withbullying, compared to 83 percent of elementary schools, and 77 percent of high schools.”)OTHER SCHOOL LAW AND POLICY CHANGESAccreditation of SchoolsVIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY ISSUESThe Virginia Board of Education approved changes to the accreditation standards over fouryears ago, but the General Assembly has passed legislation for the past three sessions todelay the implementation of some of the changes. While the 2011 General Assembly passedsimilar legislation to delay implementation of statutes and regulations not in effect on June 30,2008, the legislation clearly notes that a course in economics and financial literacy becomes agraduation requirement beginning July 1, 2011. In addition, changes approved by the Boardof Education relating to increased graduation requirements for the standard and advancedstudies diplomas also took effect July 1, 2011. (Editor’s Note: The high school Graduationand Completion Index was a part of the original accreditation changes made by the StateBoard. Full implementation of the index occurred with the graduating class of 2011. Therewill be a large number of high schools that will be provisionally accredited or accredited withwarning in the fall of 2011 because of their score on the index. High school principals mustmaintain a diligent focus on the index and must work with division staff, elementary schoolprincipals, and middle school principals to develop K-12 initiatives to keep students in schooland keep them on grade level. Principals are encouraged to read a recent study titled “DoubleJeopardy: How Third-Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School GraduationRate.” The study can be downloaded at the following website: http://www.aecf.org/~/media/Pubs/Topics/Education/Other/DoubleJeopardyHowThirdGradeReadingSkillsandPovery/DoubleJeopardyReport040511FINAL.pdf. In addition, high school principals and staff have tomonitor and follow every student who enters the 9 th grade. Students who drop out need to beidentified and initiatives designed and developed to get these students back in school, back ontrack for graduation, and/or in a G.E.D. program.High school principals also need to communicate the changes in the graduation requirementsfor the freshman class of 2011 to students and to their parents. They also need to ensure thatmiddle school principals and staff understand the changes and that these changes are sharedwith parents of both middle and elementary school students. While the requirement for a coursein economics and financial literacy starts with the 2011 entering freshman class, school divisionshave flexibility in deciding when that course will be offered. With the addition of this course,there are related changes to requirements for the standard and advanced studies diplomas.While the standard diploma still requires 22 credits to graduate, students will take one lesselective in order to add the requirement for economics and financial literacy. Students pursuingan advanced studies diploma will see their graduation requirements jump from 24 credits to 26credits, one of which must be economics and financial literacy. The additional credit will be anelective).Revised State Regulation on Student Fees (8 VAC 20 – 720)The State Board of Education revised and approved changes to the regulations concerningstudent fees (8 VAC 20 – 720) to specify what fees public schools are allowed to chargeA PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, INC.Copyright © 2011 by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, Inc. All rights reserved.
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