Authority: State Education Services for Adult Education (1910400): §§ 22.1-223 through 22.1-236, Code of Virginia; Part B., P.L. 100-297, as amended, P.L. 102-73, Adult Education Act.

State Education Services for Research, Testing and Evaluation (1910700): § 22.1-19, Code of Virginia; Article VIII, Section 2, Constitution of Virginia.

State Education Services for Public School Support (1910800): §§ 22.1-16, 22.1-138 through 22.1-141, 22.1-186, 22.1-238 through 22.1-253, 22.1-346 through 22.1-357, Code of Virginia.

State Education Services for Early Childhood (1910900): §§ 22.1-199 through 22.1-221, Code of Virginia.

State Education for Preadolescent (1911000): §§ 22.1-200 through 22.1-221, Code of Virginia.

State Education Services for Adolescent (1911100): §§ 22.1-200 through 22.1-221; §§ 22.1-228 through 22.1-237, Code of Virginia.

State Education Services for Regional Services (1911200): §§ 22.1-213 through 22.1-221, Code of Virginia.

Virginia Business-Education Partnership Program (1911700): §§ 9-325 through 9-329, Chapter 41, Code of Virginia.

A. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is encouraged to implement school/community team training.

B. The appropriation for State Education Regional Services includes $20,000 the first year and $20,000 the second year from the general fund to provide technical assistance to localities in developing a comprehensive, coordinated, quality preschool program for serving at-risk four-year-old children.

C. Out of the amounts for State Education Services, $296,000 the first year and $296,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Virginia VIEWS Program.

D. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall provide direction and technical assistance to local school divisions in the revision of their Vocational Education curriculum and instructional practices.

E. Out of the amounts for State Education Services, $23,721,759 the first year and $26,415,635 the second year from the general fund is provided for the development and administration of assessment materials and tests related to the Standards of Learning.

F. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, in cooperation with the Commissioner of Social Services, shall encourage local departments of social services and local school divisions to work together to develop cooperative arrangements for the use of school resources, especially computer labs, for the purpose of training Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients for the workforce.

G. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 22.1-253.13, Code of Virginia, and notwithstanding the provisions of the Board of Education's Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia, the Literacy Passport Test will not be available after July 1, 2003. Further, effective July 1, 2003, passage of the Literacy Passport Test will no longer be required for receipt of a high school diploma.

H. Notwithstanding § 4-1.05 b 3 of this act, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may apply for grant funding to be used by local school divisions consistent with the provisions of Chapter 447, 1999 Session of the General Assembly. The nongeneral fund appropriation for this agency shall be adjusted by the amount of the proceeds of any such grant awards.

I. The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Office of Comprehensive Services, shall provide training to local staff serving on Family Assessment and Planning Teams and Community Policy and Management Teams. Training shall include, but need not be limited to, the federal and state requirements pertaining to the provision of the special education services funded under § 2.2-5211, Code of Virginia. The training shall also include written guidance concerning which services remain the financial responsibility of the local school divisions. In addition, the Department of Education shall provide ongoing local oversight of its federal and state requirements related to the provision of services funded under § 2.2-5211, Code of Virginia.

J. The Department of Education shall collect annually, as part of the financial section of the Annual School Report, data on the expenditures of local school divisions for educational technology, to include hardware, software, and required infrastructure modifications.

K. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of law, effective July 1, 2003, the Department of Education shall not be required to administer the Stanford 9 norm-referenced test.

L. The Board of Education shall consider the caseload standards for speech-language pathologists as part of its review of the Standards of Quality, pursuant to § 22.1-18.01, Code of Virginia.

M. Out of the amounts for Public School Support, $356,512 the first year and $356,512 the second year from the general fund is designated for administrative and contractual services for the support of Project Graduation.

N.  Out of the amounts for Adult Education, $643,200 the second year from the general fund is designated for additional GED instructional classes and testing.