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2002 SESSION

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HB 493 Diploma requirements; verified units.

Introduced by: John S. Reid | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS PASSED: (all summaries)

Diploma requirements; verified units. Directs the Board of Education to develop guidelines for local school boards to award verified units of credit for a standard diploma for "transition" students: students entering the ninth grade in the 2000, 2001, and 2002 school years using criteria different from the current Standards of Accreditation diploma requirements. The guidelines address students in these classes who passed the relevant coursework and who meet such additional criteria as the Board shall establish for the award of such verified units, which may include, but shall not be limited to, performance on Standards of Learning assessments or other tests, including subsequent administrations of such assessments or tests; attendance and conduct requirements, and participation in remediation programs.

The guidelines are applicable only to the award of the four student-selected verified units of credit required for a standard diploma pursuant to the Standards of Accreditation (SOA) (8 VAC 20-131-50 B). Students must still earn the two verified units of credit in English for a standard diploma as provided in the Standards of Accreditation. The guidelines issued by the Board shall not be subject to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) and apply, retroactively and prospectively, to students entering the ninth grade for the first time in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

Currently, the SOA do not specifically make the awarding of diplomas contingent upon the passage of SOL tests; however, beginning with the ninth grade class of 2003-4, students must earn six verified units of credit from specific courses for a standard diploma. During a transition period for the ninth grade classes of 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2002-03, students must earn six verified units (two in English and four additional units). Beginning with the ninth grade class of 2000-01, students must earn nine verified credits in specific courses to earn an advanced studies diploma. (8 VAC 20-131-50 B, C). Verified units are earned upon passage of the course and the relevant SOL test (8 VAC 20-131-110 B). This measure incorporates HB 47.


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