Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Education intends to consider repealing 8VAC20-440, Regulations Governing the Employment of Professional Personnel and promulgating 8VAC20-441, Regulations Governing the Employment of Professional Personnel. The purpose of the proposed action is to promulgate new regulations for the employment of professional personnel. The new regulations will address (i) aligning the regulations with the Code of Virginia revisions, (ii) reviewing definitions, (iii) examining the phases of employment, and (iv) other areas of the regulations as needed. The entire regulation will be examined.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 22.1-302 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: January 30, 2013.

Agency Contact: Patty S. Pitts, Assistant Superintendent for Teacher Education and Licensure, Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 371-2522, or email patty.pitts@doe.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Education intends to consider repealing 8VAC20-440, Regulations Governing the Employment of Professional Personnel and promulgating 8VAC20-441, Regulations Governing the Employment of Professional Personnel. The purpose of the proposed action is to promulgate new regulations for the employment of professional personnel. The new regulations will address (i) aligning the regulations with the Code of Virginia revisions, (ii) reviewing definitions, (iii) examining the phases of employment, and (iv) other areas of the regulations as needed. The entire regulation will be examined.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 22.1-302 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: January 30, 2013.

Agency Contact: Patty S. Pitts, Assistant Superintendent for Teacher Education and Licensure, Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 371-2522, or email patty.pitts@doe.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Education intends to consider repealing 8VAC20-542, Regulations Governing the Review and Approval of Education Programs in Virginia and promulgating 8VAC20-543, Regulations Governing the Review and Approval of Education Programs in Virginia. The purpose of the proposed action is to promulgate new standards for the accreditation of professional education programs and the review and approval of education programs in Virginia. The new regulations will address (i) requirements for the approval of programs to prepare instructional personnel at institutions of higher education; (ii) the accountability measures required for program approval; (iii) requirements for professional studies, including clinical experiences; (iv) the competencies required to be completed in all programs that must be aligned, among other standards, with the Standards of Learning; and (v) other areas of program approval as needed. The entire regulation will be examined.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 22.1-298 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: January 30, 2013.

Agency Contact: Patty S. Pitts, Assistant Superintendent for Teacher Education and Licensure, Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 371-2522, or email patty.pitts@doe.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Education intends to consider repealing 8VAC20-542, Regulations Governing the Review and Approval of Education Programs in Virginia and promulgating 8VAC20-543, Regulations Governing the Review and Approval of Education Programs in Virginia. The purpose of the proposed action is to promulgate new standards for the accreditation of professional education programs and the review and approval of education programs in Virginia. The new regulations will address (i) requirements for the approval of programs to prepare instructional personnel at institutions of higher education; (ii) the accountability measures required for program approval; (iii) requirements for professional studies, including clinical experiences; (iv) the competencies required to be completed in all programs that must be aligned, among other standards, with the Standards of Learning; and (v) other areas of program approval as needed. The entire regulation will be examined.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 22.1-298 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: January 30, 2013.

Agency Contact: Patty S. Pitts, Assistant Superintendent for Teacher Education and Licensure, Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 371-2522, or email patty.pitts@doe.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Social Services intends to consider amending 22VAC40-211, Resource, Foster and Adoptive Family Home Approval Standards. This regulation addresses standards for resource, foster, and adoptive homes approved by local departments of social services. The purpose of the proposed action is to clarify (i) the circumstances under which variances can be allowed to make state regulations consistent with state and federal law and (ii) that resource parents are mandated reporters and as such must be trained. These changes are needed as a result of changes made to the Code of Virginia during the 2012 General Assembly session. Additionally, requirements for maintaining approval are being updated based upon recommendations from regional specialists and input from the department's workgroup.

The agency does not intend to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: §§ 63.2-217 and 63.2-319 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: January 30, 2013.

Agency Contact: Em Parente, Program Consultant, Department of Social Services, 801 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 726-7538, FAX (804) 726-7895, or email em.parente@dss.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given that the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired has WITHDRAWN the Notice of Intended Regulatory Action to repeal 22VAC45-50, Regulation Governing Provisions of Services in Vocational Rehabilitation, and promulgate 22VAC45-51, Regulations Governing Provisions of Services in Vocational Rehabilitation, that was published in 25:4 VA.R. 570 October 27, 2008.

Statutory Authority: §§ 51.5-65 and 51.5-71 of the Code of Virginia.

Agency Contact: Susan D. Payne, Program Director, Vocational Rehabilitation, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, 397 Azalea Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227, telephone (804) 371-3184, FAX (804) 371-3351, TTY (804) 371-3140, or email susan.payne@dbvi.virginia.gov.

Notice is hereby given that the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired has WITHDRAWN the Notice of Intended Regulatory Action to repeal 22VAC45-50, Regulation Governing Provisions of Services in Vocational Rehabilitation, and promulgate 22VAC45-51, Regulations Governing Provisions of Services in Vocational Rehabilitation, that was published in 25:4 VA.R. 570 October 27, 2008.

Statutory Authority: §§ 51.5-65 and 51.5-71 of the Code of Virginia.

Agency Contact: Susan D. Payne, Program Director, Vocational Rehabilitation, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, 397 Azalea Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227, telephone (804) 371-3184, FAX (804) 371-3351, TTY (804) 371-3140, or email susan.payne@dbvi.virginia.gov.