HOUSE BILL NO. 107 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled December 17, 2007 A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-19 of the Code of Virginia, relating to facilitating the transfer of students from private school to public school. ---------- Patron-- Cole ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 22.1-19 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-19. Accreditation of elementary, middle, and high schools; standardized placement test; nursery schools; recognition of certain organizations; child day center regulation.

The Board shall provide for the accreditation of public elementary, middle, and high schools in accordance with standards prescribed by it. The Board may provide for the accreditation of private elementary, middle, and high schools in accordance with standards prescribed by it, taking reasonably into account the special circumstances and factors affecting such private schools. The Board in its discretion may recommend provisions for standards for private nursery schools. Any such accreditation shall be at the request of the private school only.

For the purposes of facilitating the transfer of academic credits for students who have attended private schools and are enrolling in public schools, and to meet the requirements of § 63.2-1717, the Board of Education shall authorize, in a manner it deems appropriate, the Virginia Council for Private Education to accredit private nursery, preschool, elementary, and secondary schools.

For the purpose of facilitating the placement of students who transfer from a private school to public school, the Board shall develop or approve a standardized test to be used to determine the appropriate grade level of such students.

The Board shall promulgate accreditation regulations that incorporate, but may exceed, the regulations for child day centers promulgated by the Child Day-Care Council, for those child day centers described in subdivision A 7 of § 63.2-1715.