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1996 SESSION

968089128
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 196
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Joint Conference Committee
on March 9, 1996)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Bennett)
Establishing the Virginia Commission on the Future of Public Education.

WHEREAS, Virginia public education has developed significant strengths in the latter part of this century, responding to the needs of a modern Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, all of education is now challenged by major technological, social, and economic changes which dramatically alter the work of the State's schools, colleges, and universities; and

WHEREAS, the social and economic demands of the twenty-first century can be expected to place even greater emphasis upon the importance of an educated citizenry in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the leaders of Virginia industry stress that a strong educational system is needed to create and sustain a skilled workforce to enable Virginia to compete in global markets; and

WHEREAS, creativity and innovation in the delivery of vocational education will enhance the Commonwealth's ability to produce such a skilled and competitive workforce for the twenty-first century; and

WHEREAS, a critical standard by which public education should be measured is the extent to which it prepares all students to succeed in, and contribute to, the general well-being of a technologically advanced society; and

WHEREAS, the revised Standards of Learning will significantly strengthen academic standards and it is essential that a concerted effort be made to determine and provide a curriculum based on these new Standards and to supply, instructional materials, and related assessments to ensure that students acquire and are able to apply the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the next century; and

WHEREAS, the public schools are essential pathways to the workplace and to the Commonwealth's colleges and universities; and

WHEREAS, given the challenges and demands of the 21st century, maintaining a system of high quality public education requires vision, strategic planning, and specific measurable goals; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia Commission on the Future of Public Education be established. The Commission shall develop a vision for public education consistent with its Constitutional mission, and a strategic plan for accomplishing the vision and mission of public education, which shall include (i) feasible innovations for implementing the revised Standards of Learning to enhance students' preparation for future learning and work; (ii) teaching strategies and methodologies, and teacher pre-service and in-service preparation and training, with particular attention given to teacher training needed to assist students in applying concepts and transferring skills; (iii) organizational patterns and management of public schools, the public school infrastructure, incentives and rewards to school divisions that successfully meet state requirements, and whose students attain or maintain high academic achievement; (iv) current and future workforce skills and knowledge needed by high school graduates in the workplace; (v) curriculum and instructional materials and educational technology needs; (vi) student and teacher assessments, and school accountability; (vii) correlation of the objectives of the revised Standards of Learning with the competencies needed for success in employment and postsecondary education; (viii) business and industry linkages and partnerships; (ix) collaborative initiatives with institutions of higher education for augmenting instruction and providing teacher training; (x) parental involvement, student learning styles, educational alternatives and choices of students for career preparation; (xi) funding needed to enable public schools to meet the vision and mission of public education; and (xii) communication and coordination with other legislative studies charged similarly to examine the needs of public education and educational technology.

In the course of its deliberations, the Commission shall consider pertinent issues raised in the following resolutions introduced at the 1996 Regular Session of the General Assembly: House Joint Resolution 91, House Joint Resolution No. 11, House Joint Resolution No. 192, House Joint Resolution No. 249, Senate Joint Resolution No. 59, Senate Joint Resolution No. 76, and Senate Joint Resolution No. 112.

The Commission shall be composed of 21 members to be appointed as follows: five members of the House of Delegates, three of whom shall be members of the House Committee on Education, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; three members of the Senate who serve on the Senate Committee on Education and Health, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; a former Governor of the Commonwealth, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; the President of the Board of Education; the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and six eminent persons within and without the Commonwealth, three of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House, two of whom shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, and one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor. The Secretary of Education, the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, and the Director of the State Council of Higher Education shall serve ex officio without voting privileges. The chairman of the Commission shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

The Commission shall seek the participation of persons with expertise and vision to assist the commission in its work. Such persons shall include, but not be limited to, parents, students, teachers, administrators, business leaders, local elected officials, and other interested citizens.

The Commission shall employ such independent staff as it deems necessary from such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose. Technical assistance shall be provided by the staffs of the Division of Legislative Services, the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance, the Department of Education, the State Board for Community Colleges and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. All other agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $20,000.

The Commission may submit an interim report to the Governor and the 1997 General Assembly, and shall complete its work in time to submit its final findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1998 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for processing legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.