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1997 SESSION


VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-212.2:1 and 23-38.10:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Minorities in Teaching Program.
[H 2689]
Approved

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 22.1-212.2:1 and 23-38.10:1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-212.2:1. Minorities in Teaching Program established; purpose; Board of Education to administer Program; eligibility requirements for scholarship; collaboration and consultation with State Council of Higher Education; repayment of scholarship required.

A. From such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose and from such gifts, donations, and bequests as may be received in on its behalf, there is hereby established within the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program the Minorities in Teaching Program, hereinafter referred to as the "Program," to increase the number of minorities pursuing careers in teaching. The Board of Education shall administer the establish criteria for determining, biennially, critical teacher shortage areas for awarding scholarships pursuant to this section, which shall include such factors as the needs in teacher endorsement areas and at the elementary and secondary grade levels, gender, ethnicity, under-served geographical regions of the Commonwealth, and school divisions with high concentrations of at-risk students. The Program and shall be administered by the Board of Education, which shall promulgate such regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of the Program. The Board shall, before implementing the Program, document in writing the basis for any racial or gender preferences in any component of the Program, or in the regulations and policies governing such Program, and, upon making awards, that scholarships have been awarded in accordance with constitutional principles. The Board shall consult with the State Council of Higher Education in the development and implementation of the Program.

B. The Board shall develop and implement the Program by July 1, 1997. The Program may include, but shall not be limited to, initiatives that shall consist of scholarships awarded annually to undergraduate students in the junior or senior year of college at an accredited public or private four-year institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, who (i) are enrolled full time in an approved teacher education program in a critical teacher shortage area, as may be determined by the Board of Education biennially, (ii) have and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, and (iii) are nominated for such scholarship by the institution where they are enrolled. Minority students enrolled in any area of an approved teacher education program and male students enrolled in an approved teacher education program in elementary or middle school who meet the program requirements may be eligible for such award.

C. Before any teaching scholarship is awarded in accordance with the provisions of this section, the scholarship recipient shall sign a promissory note under which he agrees to pursue an approved teacher education program full time at an accredited public or private four-year institution of higher education in Virginia until his graduation. Upon graduation, the scholarship recipient shall begin teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth in the first full academic year after graduating from college and becoming eligible for a teaching license, and shall thereafter teach continuously in Virginia for the same number of years that he was the beneficiary of such scholarship. Such scholarship recipient may fulfill the teaching obligation by accepting a teaching position in one of the critical teacher shortage areas determined by the Board of Education, or in a school division with high concentrations of at-risk students, or at grade levels or in a geographical region of the state where minority or male teachers are under-represented. The Board of Education may recover the total amount of funds awarded as a scholarship, or the appropriate proportion thereof, including any accrued interest, if the scholarship recipient fails to honor the teaching obligation.

D. To ensure a more diverse representation among classroom teachers, particularly at the elementary grade level, the Program shall be designed to attract and encourage elementary and secondary school students, particularly minority students, to pursue an approved teacher education program and students enrolled in institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth to enter the teaching profession,. The Program shall be developed in accordance with the provisions of the appropriation act governing the administration of the Pre-Collegiate Program. The Program may include outreach activities such as student-teacher mentorship programs between educators and students, linkages between public schools and institutions of higher education, and other programs and activities designed to generate interest in entering the teaching profession. In implementing the Program, The Board may provide for pilot programs before statewide implementation. The Board shall consult with the State Council of Higher Education in the development and implementation of the Program.

§ 23-38.10:1. Traineeships for education of special education personnel; collaboration and consultation with Board of Education in the development and implementation of the Minorities in Teaching Program.

A. There are hereby established traineeships which shall be awarded to persons who are interested in working in programs for the education of handicapped children for either part-time or full-time study in programs designed to qualify them as special education personnel in the public schools. Applicants for such traineeships shall be graduates of a recognized college or university.

The award of such traineeships shall be made by the State Board of Education and the number of awards during any one year shall depend upon the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly for this purpose. The amount of each traineeship shall be $450 for a minimum of six semester hours of course work in areas relating to special education to be taken by the applicant during a single semester or summer session.

This program shall be administered by the State Department of Education under rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education.

B. To ensure a more diverse representation among classroom teachers, particularly at the elementary grade level, the State Council of Higher Education shall work collaboratively with the Board of Education in the development and implementation of the Minorities in Teaching Program, pursuant to § 22.1-212.2:1. The Program shall be developed in accordance with the provisions of the appropriation act governing the administration of the Pre-Collegiate Program, and shall be designed to attract and encourage elementary and secondary school students, particularly minority students, to pursue an approved teacher education program. The Program may include outreach activities such as student-teacher mentorship programs, linkages between public schools and institutions of higher education, and other programs and activities designed to generate interest in the teaching profession.