Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
Board
State Board of Education
chapter
Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia [8 VAC 20 ‑ 131]
Action:
Amendments to Graduation Requirements in the SOA to Comport with 2020 Legislation
Action 5572
 
General Information
Action Summary During the 2020 Session, the General Assembly passed legislation requiring amendments to the Board of Education’s Regulations Establishing the Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (8VAC20-131) (i.e. Standards of Accreditation or SOA). This fast-track regulatory action addresses the following legislation, which took effect on July 1, 2020: • HB 516 (Bulova) and SB 112 (Suetterlein) require the Board of Education, in establishing high school graduation requirements, to include the options for students to complete a dual enrollment course or high-quality work-based learning experience; currently, students must complete an Advanced Placement Course or International Baccalaureate course or earn a career and technical education credential. • SB 323 (Barker) requires the Board of Education, in establishing high school graduation requirements, to permit a student who is pursuing an advanced diploma and whose individualized education program specifies a credit accommodation for world language to substitute two standard units of credit in computer science for two standard units of credit in a world language. The bill provides that for any student electing to substitute a credit in computer science for credit in world language, his school counselor shall provide notice to the student and parent or guardian of possible impacts related to college entrance requirements. The amendments to the Standards of Accreditation incorporate these legislative changes and will follow the fast-track rulemaking requirements of the Administrative Process Act (APA). Section 2.2-4012.1 of the Code of Virginia provides that the fast-track rulemaking process may be followed for rules that are expected to be noncontroversial.
Chapters Affected Only affects this chapter.
Executive Branch Review This action will go through the normal Executive Branch Review process.
RIS Project Yes  [006463]
Associated Mandates High school graduation requirements
New Periodic Review This action will not be used to conduct a new periodic review.
 
Stages
Stages associated with this regulatory action.
Stage ID Stage Type Status
9028 Fast-Track Stage complete. This regulation became effective on 04/15/2021.
 
Contact Information
Name / Title: Jim Chapman  / Regulatory and Legal Coordinator
Address: James Monroe Bldg., 25th Floor
101 N. 14th St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Email Address: jim.chapman@doe.virginia.gov
Phone: (804)225-2540    FAX: ()-    TDD: ()-

This person is the primary contact for this chapter.