Final Text
8VAC20-131-140. College and career preparation programs and opportunities for postsecondary credit.
Each middle and secondary school shall provide for the early identification and enrollment of students in a college preparation program with a range of educational and academic experiences in and outside the classroom, including an emphasis on experiences that will motivate disadvantaged and minority students to attend college.
Beginning in the middle school years, students shall be counseled on opportunities for beginning postsecondary education and opportunities for obtaining industry certifications, occupational competency credentials, or professional licenses in a career and technical education field prior to high school graduation. Such opportunities shall include access to at least three Advanced Placement courses or three college-level courses for degree credit pursuant to 8VAC20-131-100. Students taking advantage of such opportunities shall not be denied participation in school activities for which they are otherwise eligible. Wherever possible, students shall be encouraged and afforded opportunities to take college courses simultaneously for high school graduation and college degree credit (dual enrollment), under the following conditions:
1. Written approval of the high school principal prior to participation in dual enrollment must be obtained;
2. The college must accept the student for admission to the course or courses; and
3. The course or courses must be given by the college for degree credits (no remedial courses will be accepted).
Schools that comply with this standard shall not be penalized in receiving state appropriations.
Beginning with the 2012-2013 2013-2014 academic year,
all schools shall begin development of a personal Academic and Career Plan for
each seventh-grade student with completion by the fall of the student's
eighth-grade year. Students who transfer from other than a Virginia public
school into the eighth grade shall have the Plan developed as soon as
practicable following enrollment. Beginning with the 2013-2014 2014-2015
academic year, students who transfer into a Virginia public school after their
eighth-grade year shall have an Academic and Career Plan developed upon
enrollment. The components of the Plan shall include, but not be limited to,
the student's program of study for high school graduation and a postsecondary
career pathway based on the student's academic and career interests. The
Academic and Career Plan shall be developed in accordance with guidelines
established by the Board of Education and signed by the student, student's
parent or guardian, and school official(s) designated by the principal. The
Plan shall be included in the student's record and shall be reviewed and
updated, if necessary, before the student enters the ninth and eleventh grades.
The school shall have met its obligation for parental involvement if it makes a
good faith effort to notify the parent or guardian of the responsibility for
the development and approval of the Plan. Any personal academic and career
plans prescribed by local school boards for students in grades 7 through 12 and
in effect as of June 30, 2009, are approved to continue without further action
by the board.
8VAC20-131-360. Effective date.
A. The provisions in 8VAC20-131-30 B relating to double testing and the provisions in 8VAC20-131-60 C relating to Virtual Virginia shall become effective July 31, 2009.
B. Graduation requirements prescribed in 8VAC20-131-50 B and D shall become effective with the ninth-grade class of 2011-2012.
C. Graduation requirements prescribed in 8VAC20-131-50 C and E shall become effective with the ninth grade class of 2012-2013.
D. Schools with a graduating class shall meet prescribed thresholds on a graduation and completion rate index as prescribed in 8VAC20-131-280 and 8VAC20-131-300 for accreditation ratings earned in 2010-2011 and awarded in 2011-2012.
E. Accreditation ratings prescribed in 8VAC20-131-300 C 1 a shall become effective with tests administered in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 for ratings awarded in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.
F. Accreditation ratings prescribed in 8VAC20-121-300 C 1 c shall become effective with tests administered in 2012-2013 for ratings awarded in 2013-2014 and beyond.
G. The Academic and Career Plan prescribed in 8VAC20-131-140
shall become effective in 2012-2013 2013-2014.
H. Unless otherwise specified, the remainder of these regulations shall be effective beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year.