Authority: Title 2.1, Chapter 5.4, and § 2.1-51.10:1, Code of Virginia.

A. By October 1 of each year, each institution of higher education, Richard Bland College, and the Virginia Community College System shall submit a report on progress toward meeting its approved restructuring plan to the Secretary of Education and the State Council of Higher Education. The progress reports shall be prepared according to a format approved by the Secretary of Education and the State Council of Higher Education. A presentation on the progress of institutions in implementing their plans shall be made by the Secretary and the State Council of Higher Education to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees at their regularly scheduled meetings in November of each year.

B. The Secretary of Education shall advise the public colleges and universities of their obligations and responsibilities under the Supreme Court finding in U.S. v. Fordice, 112 S. Ct. 2727 (1992) and under earlier agreements between the Commonwealth and the U.S. Office for Civil Rights. The public colleges and universities are hereby directed to make every effort to meet such obligations and responsibilities, and the Secretary shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 1996, and December 1, 1997, on such efforts by the institutions.

C. The Secretary of Education shall prepare a list of all United States Department of Education grants in excess of $1,000,000 for which the Commonwealth of Virginia, or school divisions of the Commonwealth, are or may be eligible during the period beginning April 1, 1997, and ending July 1, 1998. Such listing shall include the potential grant amount, purpose, and application filing and reporting deadlines and requirements. This listing shall be provided to the Chairmen of the Senate Education and Health, Senate Finance, House Education, and House Appropriations Committees by March 15, 1997.

D. The Secretary of Education shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that Virginia applies for all funds available to the Commonwealth under the federal School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 (Public Law No. 103-329, 108 Stat. 568, as amended). The Secretary should work to ensure that businesses, community colleges, and public schools are involved in the effort. Business partnerships, linkages between college and high school curricula, and the replication of successful model programs should all be encouraged as Virginia develops its strategy for implementing the Act. In addition, the Secretary shall examine potential connections between the School-to-Work program and Virginia's existing High Schools that Work program. The Secretary shall submit quarterly reports, beginning April 30, 1997, on the readiness of Virginia's school divisions to properly use these federal dollars, and the status of Virginia's application to the federal government. These reports shall be submitted to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations, House Education, Senate Finance, and Senate Education and Health Committees.

E. The Secretary of Education shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the Commonwealth applies for funds available to the Commonwealth through the federal Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (Public Law No. 103-382). The Secretary shall submit quarterly reports, beginning April 30, 1997, on the status of Virginia's application to the federal government and the distribution of funds. These reports shall be submitted to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance, Senate Education and Health, House Appropriations, and House Education Committees.