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1999 SESSION

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VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER An Act to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-223 through 22.1-226 of the Code of Virginia, relating to adult education. [H 2746] Approved

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 22.1-223 through 22.1-226 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-223. Definitions.

As used in this article:

“Adult basic education” means education for adults which enables them to express themselves orally and in writing, read, access information and resources, make decisions, act independently and interact with others, and continue life-long learning to cope with and compete successfully in a global economy.

1. "Adult education programs program" means an instructional programs program below the college credit level provided by public schools for persons over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in § 22.1-254 who are not enrolled in the regular public school program, including basic adult basic education, credit programs, cultural adult education, external diploma programs, general adult education and general educational development programs.

2. "Basic adult education" means education for adults whose inability to speak, read, or write the English language constitutes a substantial impairment of their real ability, which is designed to help eliminate such inability and raise the level of education of such adults so as to make them less likely to become dependent on others, improve their ability to benefit from occupational training and otherwise increase their opportunities for more productive and profitable employment, and make them better able to meet their adult responsibilities.

“Credit program” means a program of academic courses which are available to adults to enable them to complete the regular requirements for a high school diploma.

“Cultural adult education” means English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), the preparation of foreign-born adults for participation in American life or for becoming American citizens, and other educational services for foreign-born adults.

“External diploma program” means a program in which adults who did not complete high school may earn a high school diploma by demonstrating with 100 percent mastery the sixty-five competencies established and validated by the American Council on Education.

3. "General adult education" means academic, cultural, or and avocational instruction which may be obtained through programs other than high school credit programs, a general educational development (GED) program, or an external diploma program (EDP).

4. "General educational development program" means a program whereby an adult of preparation and instruction for adults who did not complete high school, by achieving satisfactory scores on tests of the program, may earn a high school equivalency certificate and for youth who have been granted permission by the division superintendent of the school in which they are enrolled to take the test for the general educational development certificate.

§ 22.1-224. Duties of State Board.

The Board of Education shall:

1. Stimulate and encourage Require the development of adult education programs in every school division;

2. Stimulate and Encourage coordination in the development and provision of adult education programs between school boards and other state, federal, and local, public and private agencies;

3. Promulgate appropriate standards and guidelines for adult education programs;

4. Accept and administer grants, gifts, services, and funds from available sources for use in adult education programs; and

5. Assist school divisions with all diligence in meeting the educational needs of adults participating in adult education programs to master the requirements for and earn a general educational development (GED) certificate or high school diploma.

§ 22.1-225. Authority of school boards.

A. Every Local school board is authorized to boards shall provide adult education programs, in compliance with § 22.1-253.13:1 D 9, for residents of the school division and may, in its their discretion, may charge appropriate fees to persons admitted to such programs fees therefor.

B. With such funds as may be appropriated for the purposes of this article, school boards shall seek to ensure that every adult participating in such program has an opportunity to earn a general educational development (GED) certificate or a high school diploma.

§ 22.1-226. Allocation of state funds; evaluation and report.

A. State funds provided for adult education programs shall be allocated to school divisions for actual costs on a fixed-cost-per-student or cost-per-class basis.

B. School divisions shall evaluate adult education programs offered by the school division annually, beginning on July 1, 2000, by synthesizing data collected for other state and federal reports, and shall report the findings of the evaluation, including the effectiveness and success of programs in assisting adults in obtaining the general educational development (GED) certificate and the high school diploma. The Board of Education shall collect the results and report the findings to the Governor and the General Assembly.