WEST virginia legislature

2021 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 3232

By Delegate Hornbuckle

[Introduced March 16, 2021; Referred to the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18A-3-13, relating to teacher certification, requiring teachers attaining their initial licensure or renewing their license to participate in cultural competency training.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 3. TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, LICENSING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

§18A-3-13. Cultural Competency in Education Act.

(a) Prior to initial attainment, or renewal, of a teaching certificate licensing a teacher in this state to teach in the public schools or public charter schools, that teacher shall obtain training in cultural competency.

(b) The state board shall approve curriculum for any program hosting cultural competency training for purposes of meeting the requirements of this section. The training shall include evaluations on standards of professional development to include cultural competency and culturally responsive teaching.

(1) The state board may consult with any agency or group which consults on issues of cultural competency to host trainings which may meet the requirements of this section.

(2) The state board shall partner with state universities and programs, including, West Virginia University, West Virginia State University, and Marshall University’s Carter G. Woodson Lyceum, to host workshops meeting the criteria of this section.

(c) For purposes of this section, the term “cultural competency” shall mean education on different cultural traditions, practices, world views, and language usage that exist in our society based on ethnicity, race, or other factors that reflect the diversity of American society.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish cultural competency training for teachers obtaining or renewing a teaching license in West Virginia.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.