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2003 SESSION

038033460
SENATE BILL NO. 830
Offered January 8, 2003
Prefiled January 6, 2003
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-209.1, relating to the Equal Educational Opportunity Plan; report.
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Patron-- Marsh
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Referred to Committee on Education and Health
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-209.1 as follows:

§ 2.2-209.1. Equal Educational Opportunity Plan required.

The Secretary of Education shall develop and implement a statewide plan to provide for equal education opportunity in Virginia for all students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12, undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and professional and postdoctoral degree programs. To facilitate and increase diversity in public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth, the Plan shall include, but not be limited to, (i) an annual profile of minority students enrolled in the public schools by grade, and in undergraduate, graduate, professional and postdoctoral degree programs by discipline; (ii) strategies to assist local school boards and public two-year and four-year institutions of higher education in achieving diversity among personnel; (iii) strategies to increase college admissions, retention, and graduation rates of minority students at the undergraduate and graduate degree levels, particularly in disciplines in which such students are under-represented; (iv) an assessment of the effect of the escalating costs of tuition on the enrollment of minority students at each degree level and in professional and postdoctoral degree programs; (v) an analysis of the preparation of minority students for college-level work; (vi) an evaluation of the impact of financial assistance, admissions and retention policies of higher education institutions, and public policies as inducements and obstacles to college education; (vii) a ten-year projection of minority enrollment and graduation rates at public institutions of higher education by discipline; and (viii) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Plan. The Secretary shall modify as necessary and report the Plan, biennially, to the Governor and the General Assembly, beginning December 1, 2003. The report shall include appropriate and feasible recommendations to address issues or modify strategies identified by the Secretary as essential to the furtherance of the objectives of the Plan.

§ 2.2-209.2. Secretary's executive summary and report of the Plan.

The Secretary shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary of the Equal Educational Opportunity Plan no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly, biennially. The executive summary shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.