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By Patricia Hawke
The Commonwealth of Virginia and Governor Timothy M. Kaine
have
for some time been encouraging Virginia Schools high school
students to take more rigorous coursework. The Governor
recently announced the pilot Commonwealth Scholars Program and
promotional campaign to underscore this commitment to
excellence in Virginia’s youth.
Eleven divisions within the Virginia schools initially will
participate in the new program. The required rigorous
coursework goes beyond the minimum graduation requirements for
a Standard Diploma, but falls below the college preparation
coursework requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma.
Students who complete the core coursework under the Virginia
schools program will be recognized as Commonwealth Scholars at
graduation and eligible to receive a special diploma seal that
recognizes their achievement. Instructional support will be
provided to all students who participate.
A two-year, $300,000 State Scholars Initiative grant from the
U.S. Department of Education funds the Commonwealth Scholars
Program. Virginia schools were one of eight states selected in
a national competition to participate in the federal grant
program.
The Virginia schools divisions were chosen based on their
interest in the program and their ability to meet the
requirements of the grant. The eleven Virginia schools’
divisions are:
•Albemarle County
•Alexandria
•Bristol
•Carroll County
•Chesterfield County
•Henry County
•Lancaster County
•Nottoway County
•Richmond
•Roanoke County
•Scott County
The Virginia Career Education Foundation, a statewide business
and education partnership, will lead the Virginia schools
initiative. They will work with participating school divisions
to develop partnerships with local businesses and to promote
the program. Private sector volunteers will be trained to make
presentations to the students, focusing on how the rigorous
high school courses will improve their post-high school career
opportunities.
The Commonwealth Scholars Program is based on a core course of
study that includes:
•Four years of English;
•Three years of mathematics — Algebra I and II, and geometry;
•Three years of science — biology, chemistry and physics;
•Three and half years of social studies — selected from United
States and Virginia history, world history, geography,
economics and financial literacy, United States and Virginia
government;
•Two years of health and physical education; and
•Two years of language other than English.
Research has shown that there is a strong correlation between
the academic rigor of high school coursework taken and
postsecondary degree completion. One example is mathematics —
40 percent of students who took Algebra II in high school
earned a bachelor’s degree, as compared to only 23 percent of
graduates who stopped taking high school mathematics at
geometry.
Governor Kaine has confidence that the new Commonwealth
Scholars Program will encourage many Virginia schools students
to continue onto college after graduation. He has thrown down
the gauntlet and issued a challenge to those Virginia schools
students who are not on track for an Advanced Studies Diploma.
His hope is that they will reach higher and strive to move
from
competence to excellence.
About The Author: Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools
K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and
private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and
writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more
on
Virginia schools visit
www.schoolsk-12.com/Virginia/index.html
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