Bill Text: VA HJR688 | 2019 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Education, Department of; Advancement Via Individual Determination Programs, report.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-05 - Left in Rules [HJR688 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-HJR688-Prefiled.html
WHEREAS, pursuant to §22.1-209.1:3 of the Code of Virginia, "local school boards may establish Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Programs in their respective school divisions to prepare at-risk students enrolled in the secondary grades in the public schools of the school division for postsecondary education eligibility"; and
WHEREAS, such AVID Programs are required to include several components to ensure academic quality and rigor, including (i) a curriculum developed for intensive, accelerated instruction designed to establish high standards and academic achievement for participating students; (ii) an emphasis on college preparation and college awareness, access to advanced level college preparatory courses at the high school level, building self-esteem and the promotion of personal and social responsibility, the availability of support services for students enrolled in AVID Programs, and the development and fostering of a positive attitude toward learning and the advantages of higher education; and (iii) a low pupil-teacher ratio to promote a high level of interaction between the students and the teacher; and
WHEREAS, several local school divisions throughout the Commonwealth have established and maintained AVID Programs; and
WHEREAS, by examining the existing AVID Programs in the Commonwealth, the Department of Education can determine the feasibility of substituting elective credit received for participation in AVID Programs for other course credit required for high school graduation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Education be requested to study the feasibility of substituting elective credit received for participation in Advancement Via Individual Determination Programs for other course credit required for high school graduation.
In conducting its study, the Department of Education shall (i) examine the existing AVID Programs in the Commonwealth to determine the quality of such programs, including the quality of participation, curriculum, instruction, staff development and training, outreach, and outcomes and (ii) make recommendations relating to the substitution of course credit based on its findings on program quality.
Technical assistance shall be provided to the Department of Education by the school board in each school division in which there is an AVID Program. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Education for this study, upon request.
The Department of Education shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2019, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2020 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
