HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 81

(By Delegates Perry, Browning, Poling, Shaver, Wysong, Duke, Romine, Pethtel, Moye, Rodighiero, Ireland, Ellis, Frederick, Gall, Williams, Rowan, Fragale, Crosier, Wells, Tansill, Sumner and Miller)


[Originating in the Committee on Education]

(February 28, 2008)

Requesting the joint committee on government and finance to make a study on providing supplemental state aid for the instruction of English as a Second Language(ESL)/Limited English Proficient (LEP) students and removing statutory and regulatory limitations on program delivery.

Whereas, West Virginia collects data for Federal funding on the number of ESL/LEP students in the schools and that data shows that some counties must provide instruction for significant and growing numbers of ESL/LEP students while others do not, thus creating unequal demands on instructional dollars of different counties ; and
Whereas, S trong ESL/LEP definitions, testing, student identification, counting and monitoring regulations are currently in place to comply with federal law and reporting requirements ; and
Whereas, Providing supplemental state aid and removing statutory and regulatory barriers limitations on the instruction of (ESL)/(LEP) students helps lessen the burden of serving these students with special needs; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the joint committee on government and finance is hereby requested to make a study on providing supplemental state aid for the instruction of English as a Second Language(ESL)/Limited English Proficient (LEP) students and removing statutory and regulatory limitations on program delivery; and be it
Further Resolved, That the said joint committee on government and finance is requested conduct the study and prepare a report of its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and be it
Further Resolved, That the joint committee on government and finance is requested to report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2009, 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 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.