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- Subject Index: Since 1995
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1999 SESSION
996641128Patrons-- Bennett, Abbitt, Bryant, Clement, Cranwell, Croshaw, DeBoer, Dickinson, Dillard, Hamilton, Jackson, Murphy, Phillips, Robinson, Stump, Thomas, Van Yahres and Woodrum; Senator: Couric
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth’s recently revised curriculum standards, the Standards of Learning (SOL), heralded as among the most demanding nationwide, signify a renewed commitment to rigorous academic pursuit, clearly defining what students must learn and what teachers must teach; and
WHEREAS, bolstering these SOL are new assessments that will measure academic progress and help make our schools more accountable for student learning; and
WHEREAS, essential to improved educational performance in Virginia’s public schools is a renewed commitment to increasing capacity, as students, educators, schools, and divisions must be given the tools necessary to achieve educational excellence; and
WHEREAS, to meet this imperative, students must be given every opportunity to meet increased educational challenges, and preservice training and continuing professional development opportunities must be available for teachers and administrators to address academic and curriculum standards and to promote effective, innovative instructional methods that support application of knowledge; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to § 22.1-253.13:3, the Standards of Accreditation (SOA) for public schools must include student outcome measures, requirements and guidelines for instructional programs, staffing levels, pupil personnel services, special education program standards, auxiliary programs such as library and media services, community relations, and graduation requirements, as well as "the philosophy, goals, and objectives of public education in Virginia"; and
WHEREAS, acknowledging that the “mission of the public education system, first and foremost,” is to prepare students with “essential academic knowledge and skills in order that they may be equipped for citizenship, work, and a private life that is informed and free,” the SOA also include mandates for course offerings, school year and day standards, and staff levels and responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, the 1997 revisions to the SOA set forth new criteria and processes for individual school accreditation, and clearly state that schools shall be accredited “primarily” based on pupil achievement, as evidenced by scores on the SOL tests and other assessments; and
WHEREAS, various provisions of the SOA, such as the graduation requirements, mandated course offerings and staffing levels, and the addition of SOL assessments have compounded space and staffing needs in some school divisions, as well as prompted increased demand for instructional time, remediation, teacher retraining, and new instructional materials and textbooks; and
WHEREAS, while the Standards of Quality already acknowledge that “effective educational leadership … and appropriate programs of professional development are essential for the advancement of public education in the Commonwealth,” meeting the challenges of increasingly rigorous curriculum and accreditation standards may necessitate further examination of a variety of issues, such as specific teacher training needs and additional instructional time, the adequacy of the current school year and day, and the optimum balance of teaching duties and development opportunities; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a [ commission
joint subcommittee be established ] to examine the instructional needs of students
and teachers in the public schools of the Commonwealth [ be established ] .
The [ commission joint subcommittee ] shall be composed of 19 members to be
appointed as follows: 6 members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker
of the House; 5 members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections; one public school teacher, one school principal, and
one local school division superintendent to be appointed by the Speaker of the
House; one parent of a child who is enrolled in the public schools of the
Commonwealth and one citizen member at large to be appointed by the Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections; and the Secretary of Education, the
President of the Board of Education, and the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, who shall serve ex officio with full voting privileges.
The [ commission joint subcommittee ] shall consider, among other things, (i)
current training requirements and professional development opportunities for educational
personnel in the Commonwealth; (ii) the efficacy and appropriateness of the current school
year and day to meet the goals and standards set by the Standards of Quality,
the Standards of Accreditation, and the Standards of Learning; (iii) the
interplay of current instructional hours, length of school year, and teacher
contract requirements; (iv) optimum instructional loads, including classroom
instruction, student assessment, lesson plan development, safety and
disciplinary responsibilities, and in-service training; and (v) such other
issues as it deems appropriate.
The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study.
The staffs of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee
on Finance shall provide technical assistance for the study. All agencies of
the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the [ Commission joint
subcommittee ] , upon request.
The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $10,750.
The [ Commission joint subcommittee ] shall complete its work in time to submit
its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2000 Session of the General
Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems
for the processing of 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.