HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 102

(By Kurcaba, Ellington, Hicks, Romine, Trecost, Kelly, Hamrick, Espinosa, Rodighiero, and Campbell)

[Originating in the Committee on Education; Reported on March 7, 2016]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct an interim study on the enrollment of students solely for participation in extracurricular activities.

Whereas, The public schools are tax payer supported educational programs and facilities that include curricular and extracurricular activities valuable for providing a thorough and efficient education for all students; and  

Whereas, The public schools are open to all children of compulsory school age in the state and all children are entitled to a thorough and efficient education; and

Whereas, Some taxpayers choose options other than the public schools for the education of their children as they may do through lawful process and bear the additional expense; and 

Whereas, Such a choice does not diminish the rights of these children to a thorough and efficient education and they may receive services or be enrolled from time to time in some academic courses offered by the public schools; and   

Whereas, The extracurricular activities that are available to students as a part of the public schools may require certain conditions to be met as a precedent to participation but, absent a compelling state interest, these conditions should not be such as to exclude an entire class or classes of children otherwise entitled to the full benefits of a thorough and efficient education from participating if they choose to do so.

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct an interim study on the enrollment of students solely for participation in extracurricular activities; and be it

Further Resolved, That the study shall include an opportunity for input from the Home School Legal Defense Association, the Christian Home Educators of West Virginia, the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission, the Coaches Association, the Principals Association, the West Virginia School Board Association, the Superintendents Association, the Athletic Directors, the AFT-WV, the WVEA and such others who may have an interest;

Further Resolved, That a report of the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the study, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate the recommendations be reported to the Legislature at its 2017 Regular Session; and be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and draft necessary legislation are requested to be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.