SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE

SB376: Administration, policy

Local school divisions; annual budget. Requires local school divisions to publish their annual budget on the local school division website. If there is no local school division website, the budget must be available in hard copy. This bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2009.  
Patron - Stuart

HB771: Information

Joint and regional schools. Provides that any joint, regional, or regional charter school in operation prior to July 1, 2008 may request a waiver from any new regulation requirements promulgated after that date. Also, the bill provides that any joint or regional school, such as academic year Governor's Schools, may set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school will comport with the calendar of any of the participating school divisions, including those granted a waiver to start before Labor Day. This bill contains an emergency clause.  
Patron - Tata

HB777: Information

Commission on Civics Education. Extends the sunset provision applicable to the Commission from July 1, 2008, to July 1, 2010. This bill is identical to SB 306.  
Patron - Tata

HB1135: Policy

Expression of religious viewpoints in the public schools. Provides that a student's voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint on an otherwise permissible subject must not be discriminated against by local school divisions.  
Patron - Fralin

HB1425: Information, NCLB

No Child Left Behind; withdrawal. Requires the Board of Education to make a recommendation to the General Assembly on whether Virginia should withdraw from the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, unless reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides the necessary revisions in the NCLB Act that allow Virginia's existing educational accountability system, as set forth in the Standards of Quality, Standards of Learning, and Standards of Accreditation, to substantially meet the accountability requirements of the federal law. If the Board recommends withdrawal from participation in NCLB, the Board must develop a plan for withdrawal and must submit such plan to the Governor and the General Assembly for their consideration by June 30, 2009. This bill is identical to SB 490.
Patron - Landes

SB306: (HB777)

Commission on Civics Education. Extends the sunset provision applicable to the Commission from July 1, 2008, to July 1, 2010. This bill is identical to HB 777.  
Patron - Reynolds

SB326: Information, BOE

Career and technical education; industry certification. Requires the Board of Education to develop a plan for increasing the number of students receiving industry certification and state licensure as part of their career and technical education.  
Patron - Wagner

SB490: NCLB

No Child Left Behind; withdrawal. Requires the Board of Education to make a recommendation to the General Assembly on whether Virginia should withdraw from the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, unless reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides the necessary revisions in the NCLB Act that allow Virginia's existing educational accountability system, as set forth in the Standards of Quality, Standards of Learning, and Standards of Accreditation, to substantially meet the accountability requirements of the federal law. If the Board recommends withdrawing from participation in NCLB, the Board must develop a plan for withdrawal and must submit such plan to the Governor and the General Assembly for their consideration by June 30, 2009. This bill is identical to HB 1425.  
Patron - Hanger