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2013 SESSION

13100724D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1502
Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled January 3, 2013
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-253.13:9 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Index of Performance incentive program; raising the achievement of students in proficiency gap groups.
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Patrons-- Krupicka and Kory
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Referred to Committee on Education
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 22.1-253.13:9 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-253.13:9. Virginia Index of Performance incentive program.

A. Schools and local school divisions shall be recognized by the Board of Education in accordance with guidelines it shall establish for the Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) incentive program. The VIP incentive program shall be designed to recognize and reward fully accredited schools and school divisions that make significant progress toward achieving advanced proficiency levels in reading, mathematics, science, and history and social science, and on other indicators of school and student performance that are aligned with the Commonwealth's goals for public education and to recognize and reward all schools and school divisions that make significant progress toward raising the achievement of students in the English language learners subgroup, students with disabilities subgroup, economically disadvantaged students subgroup, African American students subgroup, or Hispanic students subgroup, as identified by the Board of Education pursuant to the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), P.L. 89-10, as amended, while narrowing gaps in achievement among all student subgroups identified pursuant to ESEA. Such recognition may include:

1. Public announcements recognizing individual schools and divisions;

2. Tangible rewards;

3. Waivers of certain board regulations;

4. Exemptions from certain reporting requirements; or

5. Other commendations deemed appropriate to recognize high achievement.

In addition to Board recognition, local school boards shall adopt policies to recognize individual schools through public announcements or media releases as well as other appropriate recognition.

In order to encourage school divisions to promote student achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the Board of Education shall take into account in its guidelines a school division's increase in enrollments and elective course offerings in these areas.

In order to encourage schools and school divisions to raise the achievement of students in the English language learners subgroup, students with disabilities subgroup, economically disadvantaged students subgroup, African American students subgroup, and Hispanic students subgroup, the Board of Education shall take into account in its guidelines (i) schools at which the students in any such student subgroup have improved their final course grades, on average, by at least two letter grades from the previous school year; (ii) high schools at which the students in any such student subgroup participate in advanced tests such as the SAT, Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations at levels that exceed the state average rate of participation for students in that student subgroup; and (iii) elementary schools that have demonstrated an annual increase in the percentage of students in kindergarten through second grade, in any such student subgroup, who meet the benchmark on the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) assessment.

B. A school that maintains a passing rate on Virginia assessment program tests or additional tests approved by the Board of 95 percent or above in each of the four core academic areas for two consecutive years may, upon application to the Department of Education, receive a waiver from annual accreditation. A school receiving such a waiver shall be fully accredited for a three-year period. However, such school shall continue to annually submit documentation in compliance with the pre-accreditation eligibility requirements.

C. Schools may be eligible to receive the Governor's Award for Outstanding Achievement. This award will be given to schools rated fully accredited that significantly increase the achievement of students within student subgroups in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Board of Education.

D. In its guidelines for calculating an award under the Virginia Index of Performance incentive program pursuant to this section, the Department of Education shall take into account the number of high school students who earn the one-year Uniform Certificate of General Studies or an associate's degree from a community college in the Commonwealth concurrent with a high school diploma.