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2010 SESSION

10102576D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 32
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 11, 2010
Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the role of the Secretary of Education in improving coordination between K-12, community colleges, and four-year institutions of higher education. Report.
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Patron-- McDougle
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Secretary of Education is charged with overseeing the Department of Education and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, which oversees the Virginia Community College System; and

WHEREAS, in order to ensure meaningful, dependable employment in our increasingly complicated society, some level of higher education or technical training beyond high school is mandatory; and

WHEREAS, in spite of the recent economic downturn, private companies around the state cite an inability to find qualified, trained staff to meet their employment needs; and

WHEREAS, there is a clear need for greater coordination among the various educational entities in the Commonwealth in order to provide the necessary workforce; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) be directed to study the role of the Secretary of Education in improving coordination between K-12, community colleges, and four-year institutions of higher education.

In conducting its study, JLARC shall (i) examine the statutory authority and duties of the Secretary of Education in overseeing education in the Commonwealth from K-12 through higher education, (ii) consider possible ways of expanding such authority or duties in order to better coordinate education at all levels throughout the Commonwealth, (iii) emphasize the need to better anticipate the workforce needs of the Commonwealth, and ways to direct students toward education and training that will fulfill those needs, and (iv) make recommendations as to how to accomplish these objectives legislatively or otherwise.

Technical assistance shall be provided to JLARC by the Secretary of Education, the Department of Education, the Virginia Community College System, and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to JLARC for this study, upon request.

JLARC shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2010, and for the second year by November 30, 2011, and the Director shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether JLARC intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports 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.