Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+ful+SB1214
Timestamp: 2018-08-18 22:03:23
Document Index: 72344336

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 22']

056918728
SENATE BILL NO. 1214 Offered January 12, 2005 A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-199.1 and 22.1-253.13:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to early childhood education. ---------- Patron-- Edwards ---------- Referred to Committee on Education and Health ----------
1. That §§ 22.1-199.1 and 22.1-253.13:1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
Funds for improving the quality and capacity of educational technology shall also be provided as set forth in the appropriation act, including, but not limited to, (i) funds for providing a technology resource assistant to serve every elementary school in this Commonwealth beginning on July 1, 1998, (ii) funds for implementing the Family Involvement in Technology program as established in § 22.1-212.2:3, and (iii) funds to maintain the currency of career and technical education programs. Any local school board accepting funds to hire technology resource assistants, implement the Family Involvement in Technology program or maintain currency of career and technical education programs shall commit to providing the required matching funds, based on the composite index of local ability to pay.
The Department of Education, in cooperation with such other state agencies that may coordinate child day care and early childhood programs, shall establish guidelines for quality preschool education and criteria for the service components, consistent with the findings of the November 1993 study by the Board of Education, the Department of Education, and the Council on Child Day Care and Early Childhood Programs or such other study relating to early childhood education as may be designated by the Board.
On and after July 1, 2010, school boards shall be required to provide early childhood education programs for four-year-olds and five-year-olds who are not eligible to attend kindergarten or at-risk early childhood education programs and whose parents voluntarily wish to enroll them in such programs. These mandated early childhood education programs shall be coordinated with the at-risk early childhood programs established herein, consistent with the Department's guidelines for early childhood education, and meet the standards established by the Board of Education. The Board of Education shall develop regulations to implement the orderly phase-in of these required programs with the existing programs for at-risk four-year-olds and at-risk five-year-olds who are not eligible to attend kindergarten.
A. The General Assembly and the Board of Education believe that the fundamental goal of the public schools of this Commonwealth must be to enable each student to develop the skills that are necessary for success in school and preparation for life. The General Assembly and the Board of Education find that the quality of education is dependent upon the provision of (i) the appropriate working environment, benefits, and salaries necessary to ensure the availability of high-quality instructional personnel; (ii) the appropriate learning environment designed to promote student achievement; (iii) quality instruction that enables each student to become a productive and educated citizen of Virginia and the United States of America; and (iv) the adequate commitment of other resources. In keeping with this goal, the General Assembly shall provide for the support of public education as set forth in Article VIII, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia.
School boards shall implement the Standards of Learning or objectives specifically designed for their school divisions that are equivalent to or exceed the Board's requirements. Students shall be expected to achieve the educational objectives established by the school division at appropriate age or grade levels.
The Board of Education shall supplement the Standards of Learning for history and social science to ensure the study of contributions to society of diverse people. For the purposes of this subsection, "diverse" shall include consideration of disability, ethnicity, race, and gender.
C. Local school boards shall develop and implement a program of instruction for grades K through 12 that emphasizes reading, writing, speaking, mathematical concepts and computations, proficiency in the use of computers and related technology, and scientific concepts and processes; essential skills and concepts of citizenship, including knowledge of Virginia history and world and United States history, economics, government, foreign languages, international cultures, health and physical education, environmental issues and geography necessary for responsible participation in American society and in the international community; fine arts, which may include, but need not be limited to, music and art, and practical arts; knowledge and skills needed to qualify for further education and employment or, in the case of children with disabilities, to qualify for appropriate training; and development of the ability to apply such skills and knowledge in preparation for eventual employment and lifelong learning.
Any student who fails all of the Standards of Learning assessments for the relevant grade level in grades three through eight shall be required to attend a summer school program or to participate in another form of remediation. Division superintendents shall require such students to take special programs of prevention, intervention, or remediation, which may include attendance in public summer school programs, in accordance with clause (ii) of subsection A of § 22.1-254 and § 22.1-254.01.
3. Career and technical education programs incorporated into the Pre-K through 12 curricula that include:
14. On and after July 1, 2010, early childhood education programs for four-year-olds and five-year-olds who are not eligible to attend kindergarten and whose parents voluntarily wish to enroll them in such programs. These mandated early childhood education programs shall be coordinated with the current at-risk early childhood programs established pursuant to § 22.1-199.1, consistent with the Department's guidelines for early childhood education, and meet the standards established by the Board of Education. The Board of Education shall develop regulations to implement the orderly phase-in of these required programs with the existing programs for at-risk four-year-olds and at-risk five-year-olds who are not eligible to attend kindergarten.
2. That the implementation and funding of the public school early childhood education programs required by subdivision D 1 of § 22.1-253.13:1 shall be as set forth in the appropriation act. Further, in accordance with the appropriation act, early childhood education programs for at-risk children that are conducted by public schools or other local agencies may continue to be eligible for grants described in subsection C of § 22.1-199; however, funding for the early childhood education programs required by subdivision D 1 of § 22.1-253.13:1 of the Standards of Quality shall only be provided to public schools.