WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 4709

By Delegates Dean, Young, Worrell, and Dillon

[Originating in the Committee on Finance; Reported on February 22, 2024]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-21A-1, §18-21A-2 and §18-21A-3, all relating to establishing a four-year pilot program to provide participating middle schools with an elective course to better prepare fifth through eighth grade students to take advantage of West Virginia's career and technical education programs and to improve students' college and career readiness prior to high school; requiring the state board of education to promulgate a legislative rule, and, if necessary, an emergency rule, to implement the provisions of the pilot program; setting forth what is to be included within the provisions of the rule; and requiring  by July 1, 2025, and annually thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, a report from the State Superintendent of Schools to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 21A. Career and TECHNICAL EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM for middle school students.

§18-21A-1. Definitions.

As used in this article, unless used in a context that clearly requires a different meaning the term:

"Academic skills instruction" means instruction on skill sets required to discover and take advantage of educational opportunities, including, but not limited to: post-secondary education admissions requirements; employment rates and average salaries of graduates of vocational schools and higher education institutions; state, federal, and private scholarship and grant opportunities; and preparation of a college or technical school application.

"Career skills instruction" means instruction on skill sets required to discover and take advantage of employment opportunities, including, but not limited to: performing a job search; developing a résumé; preparing for a job interview; and developing and deploying personal networks to find job opportunities.

"Elective Course" means a one semester course in which a student may choose to enroll.

"Guest Speakers" mean individuals who are not employed by the middle school who the qualified instructor chooses to assist in meeting the pilot program objectives.

"Qualified instructor" means teachers and other middle school staff possessing a post-secondary degree. Additional certification or licensure are not required to instruct the course.

"Participating middle school" means any school containing the fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth grade that chooses to participate with the requirements of the pilot program.    

"Local Partners" means high schools, vocational schools, community and technical colleges, public universities, and any other state institutions of higher education that choose to provide speakers to participating middle schools upon the middle school’s request.

"On-Site Research" means on-site presentations and experiential learning at local employer job sites, job fairs, high schools, vocational schools, community and technical colleges, public and private universities, and other post-secondary academic institutions that introduce students to potential career paths.

"Personal Graduation Plan" means a student's formal written plan to become employable following high school.

§18-21A-2. Career and technical education pilot program for middle school students established; funding.

(a) A four-year pilot program is hereby established to provide participating middle schools with an elective course to better prepare fifth through eighth grade students to take advantage of West Virginia's career and technical education programs and to improve students' college and career readiness prior to high school.

(b) Funding. — A middle school’s participation in the pilot program is contingent upon the availability of existing funding. 

§18-21A-3. Rulemaking; reporting.

(a) The state board shall promulgate a legislative rule, and, if necessary, an emergency rule, pursuant to §29A-3B-1, et seq. to implement the provisions of this article. The provisions of the rule shall include, at a minimum:

(1) Guidelines for admission to the pilot program;

(2) Administration of the program which includes parameters that include the definitions contained in §18-21A-1 of this code; and

(3) Requirement that program participants receive a certificate upon successful completion of the pilot program.

(b) By July 1, 2025, and annually thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the state superintendent shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on:

(1) The number of students participating;

(2) The graduation rates of participating students;

(3) To the extent practicable, the job placement rates of participant students,

(4) Any issues with the program reported by students, parents, and participating middle schools; how these issues are being addressed; and whether the issues require legislative action; and

(5) A recommendation from the state superintendent on whether the program should continue beyond its four-year period.