HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 36

(By Delegates J. Miller, Anderson, Andes, Ashley, Azinger,

Blair, Border, Cann, Canterbury, Carmichael, Cowles,
Ellem, Evans, Michael, C. Miller, Overington, Porter,
Romine, Rowan, Schadler, Shott, Sumner, and Walters)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to join President Obama, forty other States of our Union, and the District of Columbia in recognizing the importance of charter schools by implementing a study of Charter School legislation in the State of West Virginia.

Whereas, Charter Schools are recognized by many as the most powerful and promising education reform movement in decades; and
Whereas, Education reform through Charter Schools is a paradigm shift in the way we educate our students by placing more power, authority, and accountability in the schools at the local level, with the central goal to help schools produce higher student achievement; and
Whereas, Charter Schools are public schools; and
whereas, Over forty states and the District of Columbia currently authorize Charter Schools, emphasizing increased school autonomy and shared decision-making with teachers, parents, students and community members; and
Whereas, Charter Schools operating nationally are experiencing higher student performance, more efficient use of resources, increased skills and satisfaction in school administrators and teachers, and greater community involvement; and
Whereas, Several chapters of the American Federation of Teachers, such as those in Houston and Dallas, have started Charter Schools, and the National Education Association has allocated $1.5 million to help members start Charter Schools; and
Whereas, Charter Schools are a bipartisan initiative; and
Whereas, President Obama has promised double funding for the Federal Charter School Program to increase accountability for Charter Schools; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to review, examine and study implementing Charter Schools, together with the legislation and regulation necessary for the implementation of the same, with the goal of providing at least one Charter School in each county of West Virginia by 2012; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2010, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendation; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.