Standard 4. Element Four: Experiences Working with Diverse Students in P-12 Schools

Profile of Virginia Demographics and School Districts

Pre-candidates and candidates experience many opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge (competent), skills (effective) and disposition (caring) with students from diverse backgrounds. [1]In the state of Virginia, there are over 200 school districts. The July 26, 2005 Virginia Department of Education Totals for Students with Disabilities, Ages 0-22, shows a state-wide total of 175,577 students. The majority of our candidates perform field and clinical experiences within Region I school districts in the Commonwealth of Virginia. These schools include the following public school districts: Charles City, Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights City, Dinwiddie County, Goochland County, Hanover County, Henrico County, Hopewell City, New Kent City, Petersburg City, Powhatan County, Prince George County, Richmond City, Surry County, and Sussex County. Table 54 shows the 2004-05 school census count and special education child count in each school district.

Table 55: December 1, 2004 School Census Count and Special Education Child Count of Total State and District Data

School Division Name	2005 School Census Count	Special Education Child Count
Charles City	857	141
Chesterfield County	56,242	8,386
Colonial Heights City	2891	433
Dinwiddie County	4,530	660
Goochland County	2220	396
Hanover County	18,530	2925
Henrico County	46,711	6,941
Hopewell	3,908	729
New Kent County	2626	492
Petersburg City Public	5,128	730
Powhatan County	4209	647
Prince George Public	6,236	751
Richmond City Public	20, 054	4,829
Surry County	1123	179
Sussex County	1348	199

2004-2005 Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program and Ethnicity Data

[2]Across the state of Virginia, 157,661 (33.48%) students are members of the National School Lunch program. 304,870 (26.33%) of these participants receive free lunch, and 82,684 (7.4%) receive are members of the reduced lunch program. Some Virginia public schools do not participate in the National School Lunch Program. Table 54 shows the number of students who receive free or reduced lunch as well as the ethnicity composition of students in school districts in which candidates complete field experiences and clinical practice.

[1]July 26, 2005 Virginia Department of Education Totals for Students with Disabilities by Disabilities and Ages 0 – 22+ State Totals and Individual

Divisional Totals, as of December 1, 2004

[2]School Year 2004 - 2005 Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program Eligibility Report from the Virginia Department of Education, School Nutrition

Program (SNP October 31, 2004)