SD8 - Final Report on the Analysis of Statewide Data Relating to the Requirements for Obtaining a High School Diploma for Students with Limited English Proficiency


Executive Summary:
Senate Bill (SB) 683 required the Virginia Board of Education (BOE) and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to collect statewide data on Virginia’s public school students with limited English proficiency (LEP). The bill required information on demographics, school division programs and services, and academic indicators of success such as scores on Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments for these students. The bill also required that the BOE and the VDOE analyze the relationships between these factors as they relate to LEP students and the requirements for obtaining a high school diploma as set forth in the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and make recommendations on the steps to take to resolve the issues relating to the requirements for obtaining a high school diploma.

To meet the requirements of SB 683, the VDOE and the BOE conducted a study that used a snapshot of data from students in grades 9-12 enrolled during the 2005-2006 school year. The report describes the results of the analyses, ongoing VDOE activities that support LEP student achievement, and recommendations for further action.