Authority: Title 2.2, Chapter 2, § 2.2-208 Code of Virginia.

A. The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized to make allocations to qualified zone academies of the portion of the national zone academy bond limitation amount to be allocated annually to the Commonwealth of Virginia pursuant to Section 1397E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and to provide for carryovers of any unused limitation amount. In making such allocations, the Secretary of Education is directed to give priority to allocation requests for qualified zone academies having at least 35 percent free lunch participation or either located in federal enterprise communities or located in cities and counties within which federal enterprise communities are located.

B. The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized to make allocations of the portion of the tax-exempt private activity bond limitation amount to be allocated annually to the Commonwealth of Virginia pursuant to the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (PL 107-16)(Section 142(k)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) for the development of education facilities using public-private partnerships, and to provide for carryovers of any unused limitation amount. In making such allocations, the Secretary is directed to give priority to public-private partnership proposals that will serve as demonstration projects concerning the leveraging of private sector contributions and resources, the achievement of economies or efficiencies associated with private sector innovation, and other benefits that are or may be derived from public-private partnerships in contrast to more traditional approaches to public school construction and renovation. The Secretary is directed to report annually not later than August 31 to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees regarding any guidelines implemented and any allocations made pursuant to this paragraph.

C. For the funds identified for reallocation in each of the higher education institutions' educational and general programs, each respective institution shall report the amounts and the specific purposes for which they were used in its six-year academic plans finalized in the fall of 2016 and the fall of 2017.

D. Out of this appropriation, $4,400,000 the first year and $3,700,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Virginia Degree Completion Network (VDCN), which shall begin January 1, 2017. In support of the proposal developed by George Mason University and Old Dominion University in accordance with Item 162. G., Chapter 665, 2015 Acts of Assembly, the Secretary of Education, with consultation from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, shall provide funds to these two institutions of higher education, as appropriate, to provide to adult learners and nontraditional students, (1) competency-based online degree completion programs, and (2) a support network targeted toward nontraditional college students and individuals who have some credit but who are not currently enrolled in college courses. Once created, the VDCN will allow all Virginia public institutions of higher education to offer programs through the network.