H. B. 4427
(By Delegates Andes and McGeehan)
[Introduced February 10, 2010; referred to the
Committee on Education then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §18-2E-3a of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to providing an annual $5,000 bonus
to teachers of advanced placement math and science classes.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §18-2E-3a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2E. HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
§18-2E-3a. Honors and advanced placement programs.
(a) The purpose of this section is to provide honors and
advanced placement programs to meet the needs of students who have
the potential and desire to complete curriculum more demanding than
that offered in the regular classroom for their current grade
level. Honors programs are those programs offering courses to
expand the academic content in a given program of study and may
include, but shall not be limited to, research and in-depth studies, mentorships, content-focused seminars, and extended
learning outcomes instruction in the content area. Advanced
placement programs are those programs offering classes which are
advanced in terms of content and performance expectations of those
normally available for the age/grade level of the student and
providing credit toward graduation and possible college credit.
Advanced placement classes also include those recognized or offered
by the college board, postsecondary institutions and other
recognized foundations, corporations or institutions.
Curriculum approved under this section shall be designed to
advance the achievement of students in the subject area or areas in
which the student has achieved at least two of the following three
criteria: (a) Demonstrated exceptional ability and interest
through past performance; (b) obtained the prerequisite knowledge
and skills to perform honors or advanced placement work; and (c)
recommended by the student's former or present teachers. Honors
and advanced placement curriculum may include advanced placement
courses offered through the college board or other public or
private foundations, corporations, institutions, or businesses
whose courses are generally accepted as leading to advanced
placement or standing in a postsecondary institution, accelerated
instructional courses offered via satellite and other courses and
arrangements, approved by the state board, which provide students
an opportunity to advance their learning above that offered through
the regular curriculum. To the maximum extent possible, honors and advanced placement courses shall be taught by a regular classroom
teacher.
Such The classroom teacher shall have adequate knowledge
in the subject area for the instruction of
such an honors or
advanced placement course.
The state board shall pay an annual
bonus of $5,000 to each teacher who teaches an advanced placement
course in math or science classes. If a teacher, licensed by the
state board, with adequate knowledge in the advanced subject area
is not available, an adjunct teacher or other qualified person may
be employed, contracted for, or shared between schools to instruct
such course:
Provided, That the position shall be posted annually
prior to the beginning of the school year immediately following the
school year in which the adjunct teacher or other qualified person
is employed. The state board may grant waivers to existing
certification requirements for an adjunct teacher or other
qualified person who has an earned bachelors degree and has
demonstrated competence in the subject to be taught.
(b) The honors and advanced placement curriculum shall be
phased-in in accordance with the following schedule:
(1) Prior to June 1, 1989, the state board shall establish a
program coordinated through the colleges and universities or some
other entity, to provide training to teachers in the instruction of
honors and advanced placement courses: Provided, That the state
board shall not establish an additional certification area for the
teaching of honors or advanced placement courses.
(2) To assist in the implementation of teacher training for honors and advanced placement instruction, there shall be an
appropriation to the state board;
(3) On or before June 1, 1989, and each year thereafter,
teachers shall be selected to teach honors and advanced placement
courses based upon the teacher's qualifications and academic
interests and the needs of the students. The county boards of
education shall, if necessary, make arrangements for the teachers
to attend a training program;
(4) Beginning in the school year 1991, each county board shall
provide in grades nine through twelve honors and advanced placement
courses as provided under subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The state board shall designate one employee who is an
expert in the area of higher education financial aid, including,
but not limited to, loans, grants and work studies, to work on a
full-time continuous basis with high school counselors to ensure
that all high school students are informed of the availability of
financial assistance to attend college.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide an annual $5,000
bonus to teachers of advanced placement math and science classes.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added