HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 31
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss and Delegates Webster, Amores, Anderson, Argento, Ashley,
Azinger, Barker, Beane, Boggs, Border, Brown, Browning, Butcher, Campbell, Cann, Caputo,
Carmichael, Craig, Crosier, DeLong, Doyle, Eldridge, Ellem, Ennis, Fragale, Hartman, Hatfield,
Howard, Hrutkay, Hunt, Lane, Long, Longstreth, Mahan, Manchin, Marshall, Martin, Michael,
Miley, Moore, Palumbo, Paxton, Perry, Pino, Porter, Roberts, Rowan, Schoen, Spencer, Staton,
Stemple, Sumner, Susman, Swartzmiller, Tansill, Rick Thompson, Ron Thompson, Trump,
Tucker, Varner, Wells, G. White, H. White and Yost)
Recognizing the importance of increasing funding to the special five-year demonstration
professional development school project to improve the academic achievement of all children
in the State of West Virginia.
Whereas, The citizens of the State of West Virginia realize that well-educated children and
families are essential for maintaining safe and economically sound communities; and
Whereas, Low student achievement is associated with increased delinquent behavior, higher
drug use and pregnancy rates, and higher unemployment and adult incarceration rates; and
Whereas, Each year, more students enter school with circumstances in their lives that
schools are ill-prepared to accommodate; and
Whereas,
The achievement of all students can be dramatically improved when schools focus
on factors within their control, such as the instructional day, curriculum and teaching practices; and
Whereas, Ensuring access for all students to the rigorous curriculum they deserve requires
effective teaching strategies that include, but are not limited to, using a variety of instructional
approaches, using varied curriculum materials, engaging parent and community involvement and
support in the educational process, and providing the professional development, support and
leadership necessary for an effective school; and
Whereas,
House Bill 4669 was enacted by the West Virginia Legislature during the 2004
regular session to address these policy concerns by mandating the creation of a five-year special
demonstration professional development school project to commence with the 2004-2005 school
year; and
Whereas, Select Committee E on racial profiling and related minority issues endorses this
special demonstration professional development school project after hearing testimony from the
project's chief administrator during the 2004 legislative interim session; and
Whereas,
No specific funding to implement the mandated special demonstration
professional development school project was appropriated for any fiscal year of the project, resulting
in an unfunded mandate; and
Whereas,
Additional funding is needed in order to fully effectuate the special demonstration
professional development school project; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That an increase in funding for the term of the special demonstration professional
development school project is essential to fund the implementation and operation of the special
demonstration professional development school project mandated by H.B. 4669 in the 2004 regular
session commencing with the 2004-2005 fiscal year, including a supplemental appropriation for that fiscal year and special budget appropriations for the remaining fiscal years of the mandated special
demonstration professional development school project.
This resolution was recommended for introduction and passage during the 2005 session of
the Legislature by Select Committee E.