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1997 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 492
Directing the Standing Subcommittee on School Drop Out Prevention to study alternative educational programming options for public school students.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 1997
Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 1997

WHEREAS, pursuant to House Joint Resolution No. 241 (1996) the Standing Subcommittee on School Drop Out Prevention was continued to monitor the factors contributing to school dropout and to focus on and provide leadership in addressing and solving related problems and issues; and

WHEREAS, the acquisition of knowledge and skills through formal educational programs is recognized as critical to achieving self-sufficiency; and

WHEREAS, Virginia's compulsory attendance law requires school attendance of persons ages five to eighteen years old; and

WHEREAS, students who are not achieving academic success show a greater tendency to be disruptive in school; and

WHEREAS, between 75 and 80 percent of students complete their high school education; and

WHEREAS, during the 1994-95 school year, approximately 3.7 percent of Virginia's students dropped out of formal public school programs and an additional number of students over the compulsory school age did not graduate from high school; and

WHEREAS, employment preparation is not routinely promoted in public school programs; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia Standing Subcommittee on School Drop Out Prevention be directed to study alternative educational programming options for public school students. The comprehensive study shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (i) a description of alternative educational program models that offer new options that will enable all students to better meet their goals for self-sufficiency and academic achievement; (ii) a review of models employed in other states or countries that seek to address these goals; and (iii) suggested legislative and program initiatives to improve educational services to all students.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the standing subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The standing subcommittee is authorized to hold additional meetings to undertake this study, which direct costs shall not exceed $6,000.

The standing subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its 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 the processing of legislative documents.