Title of Regulation: 8VAC20-131. Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (amending 8VAC20-131-110, 8VAC20-131-430).

Statutory Authority: §§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-253.13 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date Extended Through: May 7, 2020.

The Governor approved the request of the State Board of Education to extend the expiration date of the emergency regulation for six months as provided by § 2.2-4011 D of the Code of Virginia. Therefore, the emergency regulation will continue in effect through May 7, 2020. The emergency regulation relates to the provisions for high school students to earn locally-awarded verified credits for students who entered the ninth grade before the 2018-2019 school year with those who entered the ninth grade in the 2018-2019 school year and thereafter. Locally-awarded verified credits are an option available to meet graduation requirements when a student fails to earn a verified credit by passing an end-of-course Standards of Learning test. Without these regulations, students subject to the graduation requirements in effect for students who entered the ninth grade before the 2018-2019 school year would be limited to locally-awarded verified credits in social studies and science, while their younger peers would be able to earn locally-awarded verified credits in English and mathematics, in addition to social studies and science. Should these regulations expire, some students could be unable to graduate if they anticipated using a locally-awarded verified credit in English or mathematics to meet graduation requirements. The emergency regulation was published in 34:20 VA.R. 2069-2072 May 28, 2018.

Agency Contact: Dr. Cynthia Cave, Assistant Superintendent, Policy and Communications, Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120, telephone (804) 225-2092, FAX (804) 225-2524, or email cynthia.cave@doe.virginia.gov.