HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 131

(By Delegates Hill and Pack)

[Introduced March 2, 2020]

Requesting a study to research the obstacles preventing private school students from attending vocational school in West Virginia with their public school and home school peers.

Whereas, Evidence from national studies shows clearly that the need to increase the number of Americans who hold post-secondary credentials has reached a critical point; and

Whereas, According to Complete College America, the United States has fallen from first among nations to tenth in the percentage of young adults with a college degree; and

Whereas, In West Virginia, the large numbers of high school students who are uninterested and/or unprepared for college can be attributed to: lack of alignment in courses between public education and public colleges and universities, lack of clear career pathways presented to students early enough to help them choose a career path to pursue from high school through secondary education, and lack of knowledge among students and parents about financial aid opportunities that can help them and their families defray the cost of attending college; and

Whereas, Approximately 63 percent of available jobs require post-secondary education; and

Whereas, Currently, a severe gap exists between the demands for technically skilled workers in West Virginia and the aspirations and programmatic focus of many of our students; and

Whereas, A great way to promote this focus on career goals among students in West Virginia is the collaboration that currently exists between public schools, home schools, public community and technical colleges, vocational schools, and public school career centers; and

Whereas, Students who attend private school should be presented with the same alignment of high school coursework to that of public colleges and universities, be presented with clear career pathways to help them choose a career path to pursue from high school through secondary education, and have the same knowledge of financial aid opportunities to vocational schools, technical colleges, and universities in the Mountain State as those who attend public schools and home schools; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct a study to research the obstacles preventing private school students from attending vocational school in West Virginia with their public school and home school peers; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2021, on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

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