Department of Education, Central Office Operations (201)

Authority: Public Education Instructional Services: Title 22.1, Chapter 13, Code of Virginia; P.L. 107-110, P.L. 105-332, P.L.108-447, P.L. 102-305, Federal Code.

Program Administration and Assistance for Instructional Services: Title 22.1, Chapter 13, Code of Virginia; P.L. 107-110, P.L. 105-332, P.L. 108-447, P.L. 102-305, Federal Code.

Compliance and Monitoring of Instructional Services: Title 22.1, Chapter 13, Code of Virginia; P.L. 107-110, P.L. 105-332, P.L. 108-447, Federal Code.

Adult Education and Literacy: §§ 2.2-2670, 22.1-223-226, 22.1-253.13:1, 22.1-254.2, Code of Virginia; P.L. 105-220, Federal Code.

A. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is encouraged to implement school/community team training.

B. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall provide direction and technical assistance to local school divisions in the revision of their Vocational Education curriculum and instructional practices.

C. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, in cooperation with the Commissioner of Social Services, shall encourage local departments of social services and local school divisions to work together to develop cooperative arrangements for the use of school resources, especially computer labs, for the purpose of training Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients for the workforce.

D. Notwithstanding § 4-1.04 a 3 of this act, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may apply for grant funding to be used by local school divisions consistent with the provisions of Chapter 447, 1999 Acts of Assembly.  The nongeneral fund appropriation for this agency shall be adjusted by the amount of the proceeds of any such grant awards.

E. Out of the amounts for Public Education Instructional Services, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Career Pathways Program.

F. 1. Out of the appropriations in this item, $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to support students and teachers pursuing information technology industry certifications through an information technology academy model.  The funding is provided for the information technology academy model and shall be used to provide outreach, training, instructional resources, industry recognized certification opportunities for teachers and students enrolled in Virginia public high schools and regional career and technical education programs, and information technology curriculum resources for use by students’ parents.

2. The funds provided in this initiative shall be used to support the following priority objectives: a) increase the percentage of students enrolled in career and technical education courses who receive instruction in the information technology academy program leading to an increased number of students achieving industry recognized certifications in information technology; b) increase the number of high schools and regional career and technical education programs that receive the training and technical support to be ready to implement the information technology academy model leading to increased statewide implementation and use; c) increase the number of teachers teaching targeted career and technical education courses and other high school teachers who receive training in the information technology academy program and in industry recognized certifications leading to an increased number of teachers achieving industry recognized certifications in information technology; and, d) support implementation of the information technology academy program in school divisions in Southside and Southwest Virginia so that implementation in those regions is at least comparable to implementation in other regions of Virginia.

G. Out of this appropriation, $220,191 the second year from the general fund is provided to establish the Virginia Center for Excellence in Teaching.  The Department of Education will solicit competitive proposals for funding from institutions of higher education to create and operate the Center.  The Center will offer a series of residential summer professional development academies for exemplary teachers.  The curriculum developed for the academies will incorporate national issues, current research, and trends in education aligned with the focus areas of instructional supervision, strategies for school improvement, addressing the learning needs of diverse populations, assessment practices and use of data to drive instructional decision making, grant utilization and partnership opportunities, and community outreach.  The Center will incorporate experiential learning through exploration of case studies on educational policy and instructional leadership.  To be eligible to attend the Center, teachers must meet the following criteria: 1) hold a teaching license issued by the Virginia Department of Education; 2) have a minimum of 5 years of successful teaching experience; 3) a consistent record of effective instruction; and 4) demonstrated leadership ability.  The institution of higher education selected to create and operate the Center will be responsible for the selection of teachers to attend the academies.