HB3157 S ED AM #1

Hager 7871

The Committee on Education moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

That §18-2-15, §18-2-15a, §18-2-18, §18-2-23, §18-2-30, §18-2-31, §18-2-36, §18-2-37 and §18-2-38 of the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be repealed; that §18-2E-3c and §18-2E-3d of said code be repealed; that §18-5-40 of said code be repealed; that §18-9-2b, §18-9-5, §18-9-7 and §18-9-8 of said code be repealed; that §18-9A-3a, §18-9A-3b, §18-9A-13, §18-9A-13a, §18-9A-13b, §18-9A-25 and §18-9A-26 of said code be repealed; that §18-9B-11 and §18-9B-16 of said code be repealed; that §18A-3-2b of said code be repealed; that §18-1-4 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §18-2-5g of said code be amended and reenacted; that §18-5-45 of said code be amended and reenacted; that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-8-6a; that §18-9A-10 of said code be amended and reenacted; and that §18-17-8 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS; LIMITATIONS OF CHAPTER; GOALS FOR EDUCATION.

§18-1-4. Vision 2020: An Education Blueprint for Two Thousand Twenty.

(a) This section, together with section one-a, article one, chapter eighteen-b of this code and article one-d of said chapter, shall be known as and may be cited as Vision 2020: An Education Blueprint for Two Thousand Twenty.

(b) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Goals” means those long-term public purposes which are the desired end result and only may include those items and which include but are not limited to those listed in subsection (e) of this section;

(2) “Objectives” means the ends to be accomplished or attained within a specified period of time for the purpose of meeting the established goals; and

(3) “Strategies” means specific activities carried out by the public education system which are directed toward accomplishing specific objectives.

(1) The measure of a thorough and efficient system of education is whether students graduate prepared to meet the challenges of the future as contributing members of society and that these challenges change, becoming ever more complex and involving a global context more than at any other time in the history of our nation;

(2) The state recently has embraced and is implementing the Partnership for 21st Century Skills model for teaching and learning including six key elements (core subjects, 21st Century content, learning and thinking skills, information and communications technology literacy, life skills and 21st Century assessments) to help better prepare students for the challenges of the 21st Century;

(3) (2) Published national studies by several organizations routinely examine various elements of state education systems and selected underlying socioeconomic variables and rate and rank West Virginia and the other states, the District of Columbia and the territories based on the measurement systems and priorities established by the organizations, and these measurement systems and priorities change;

(4) (3) While The state should take pride in studies that show West Virginia is among the leaders in several of its efforts and is making progress. Its students often outperforming outperform expectations based on typical indicators of the likelihood for student success, such as the income and education levels of their parents. However, there are too many areas where students underperform and it should also recognize that the state must do even more to ensure that high school graduates are fully prepared for post-secondary education or gainful employment; and

(5) (4) Therefore, the purpose of this section is to provide for the establishment of a clear plan that includes goals, objectives, strategies, indicators and benchmarks to help guide the state’s policymakers on the continuous development of the state’s education system for the 21st Century.

(d) As part of Vision 2020: An Education Blueprint for Two Thousand Twenty, the state board shall establish shall, on or before the 1^st day of December, 2013, update a its plan heretofore prepared in accordance with the provisions of this section for submission to and consideration by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability. Process for Improving Education Council pursuant to section five-c, article two-e of this chapter. The plan shall include only the goals, objectives, strategies, indicators and benchmarks for public education set forth in this section and that meet the requirements of this section. To add clarity and avoid confusion, the goals for public education set forth in the plan pursuant to this section are the exclusive goals for public education. The plan shall include:

(1) The goals set forth in this section and such other goals as the state board may determine appropriate; no other goals

(2) At least the objectives set forth in this section and specified periods of time for achieving those objectives and any other objectives that may be included in the plan;

(3) Strategies for achieving the specific objectives;

(4) Indicators for measuring progress toward the goals and objectives established in this section; and

(5) Benchmarks for determining when the goals and objectives have been achieved.

(e) The plan shall include at least the following list of exclusive goals for the public education system in West Virginia:

(1) Academic achievement according to national and international measures will exceed national and international averages. These national and international measures should include scores on assessments such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the ACT, the SAT and the Programme for International Assessment (PISA);

(2) The public education system will prepare fully all students to be college and career ready as such standard is established in section thirty-nine, article two, chapter eighteen of this code; for post-secondary education or gainful employment;

(3) All working-age adults will be functionally literate;

(4) The public education system will maintain and promote the health and safety of all students and will develop and promote responsibility, citizenship and strong character in all students; and

(5) The public education system will provide equitable education opportunity to all students.

(f) The plan also shall include at least the following policy-oriented objectives:

(1) Rigorous 21st Century curriculum and engaging instruction for all students. -- All students in West Virginia public schools should have access to and benefit from a rigorous 21st Century curriculum that develops proficiency in core subjects, 21st Century content, learning skills and technology tools. These students also should have that curriculum delivered through engaging, research-based instructional strategies that develop deep understanding and the ability to apply content to real-world situations;

(2) A 21st Century An accountability and accreditation system. -- The prekindergarten through twelve education system should have a public accrediting accountability system that: (I) Holds local school districts accountable for the student outcomes the state values; and (ii) provides the public with understandable accountability data for judging the quality of local schools. The outcomes on which the system is based should be rigorous and should align with national and international standards such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the ACT, the SAT and the Programme for International Assessment (PISA). The broad standards established for these outcomes should include a focus on: (A) Mastery of basic skills by all students; and (B) closing the achievement gap among student subgroups. and (C) high levels of proficiency in a wide range of desired 21st Century measures and processes The system for determining school and district accreditation should include school and district self-analysis and generate appropriate research-based strategies for improvement. It also should allow opportunities to create innovative approaches to instructional delivery and design. Thus, the system will incorporate processes for encouraging innovation, including streamlined applications for waivers to state board policy, financial support for successful initiatives and recognition of those practices that can be brought to a district or statewide scale. The primary goal of the accreditation system is to drive school improvement. This 21st Century accountability and accreditation system also should include the methods of addressing capacity set forth in section five, article two-e of this chapter;

(3) A statewide balanced assessment process. -- State, district, school and classroom decision making should be grounded in 21st Century balanced assessment processes that reflect national and international rigorous performance standards and examine student proficiency in 21st Century appropriate content, skills and technology tools; A balanced assessment system includes statewide summative assessments, local benchmark assessments and classroom assessments for learning;

(4) A personnel allocation, licensure and funding process that aligns with the needs of 21st Century school systems and is supported by a quality coordinated professional development. delivery system -- Increased accountability, new technologies and new ways of teaching and learning demands demand, as well as the focus on 21st Century learning, require a reexamination of traditional approaches to personnel allocation, licensure, and funding, Creating schools of the 21st Century requires and new staffing roles and staffing patterns. It also requires ongoing professional development activities focused on enhancing student achievement and achieving specific goals of the school and district strategic plans. Thus, schools should have the ability to access, organize and deliver high quality embedded professional development that provides staff with in-depth sustained and supported learning. Effective school improvement should allow opportunity for staff to collectively learn, plan and implement curricular and instructional improvements on behalf of the students they serve;

(5) School environments that promote safe, healthy and responsible behavior and provide an integrated system of student support services. -- Each school should create an environment focused on student learning and one where students know they are valued, respected and safe. Furthermore, the school should incorporate programs and processes that instill healthy, safe and responsible behaviors and prepare students for interactions with individuals of diverse racial, ethnic and social backgrounds. School and district processes should include a focus on developing ethical and responsible character, personal dispositions that promote personal wellness through planned daily physical activity and healthy eating habits consistent with high nutritional guidelines and multicultural experiences that develop an appreciation of and respect for diversity;

(6) A leadership recruitment, development and support continuum. -- Quality schools and school systems of the 21st Century cannot be created without high quality leaders. Thus, West Virginia should have an aligned leadership professional development continuum that attracts, develops and supports educational leadership at the classroom, school and district level; This leadership development continuum should focus on creating: (I) Learning-centered schools and school systems; (ii) collaborative processes for staff learning and continuous improvement; and (iii) accountability measures for student achievement;

(7) Equitable access to 21st Century technology and education resources and school facilities conducive to 21st Century teaching and learning. -- A quality educational system of the 21st Century should have access to technology tools and processes that enhance effective and efficient operation. Administrators should have the digital resources to monitor student performance, manage a variety of data and communicate effectively. In the classroom, every teacher in every school should be provided with the instructional resources and educational technology necessary to deliver the West Virginia content standards and objectives. Schools of the 21st Century require facilities that accommodate changing technologies, 21st Century modern instructional processes and 21st Century new staffing needs and patterns. These school facilities should mirror the best in green construction and be environmentally and educationally responsive to the communities in which they are located;

(8) Aligned public school with post-secondary and workplace readiness programs and standards. -- An educational system in the 21st Century should be seen as a continuum from the public school (prekindergarten through twelve) program through post-secondary education or to a meaningful career. In order to be successful in a global competitive marketplace, learning should be an ongoing, life-long experience. Thus, the public schools and the institutions of post-secondary education in West Virginia should create a system of common standards, expectations and accountability. Creating such an aligned system, as envisioned in section thirty-nine, article two, chapter eighteen of this code, will enhance opportunities for success and assure a seamless educational process for West Virginia students; and

(9) A universal prekindergarten system. -– A high quality, universal prekindergarten system should be readily available to every eligible student. Among other things, the system should promote oral language and preliteracy skills and reduce the deficit of these foundational skills through proactive, early intervention. Research indicates that universal prekindergarten systems improve graduation rates, reduce grade level retentions and reduce the number of special education placements. Therefore, local school systems should create the supports and provide the resources to assure a quality prekindergarten foundation is available to all eligible students; and

(10) Appropriate Local Decision Making – The system of education can better meet the needs of students, elevate their aspirations, and prepare them for post-secondary education and careers if more discretion to make decisions is available at the classroom and building level. Additional local discretion allows principals to lead and teachers to deliver the most effective curriculum for their students and then hold them accountable for student success. Therefore, more decisions should be driven to the building and classroom level to provide more authority, flexibility and capacity for schools and school systems to improve student learning to meet or exceed the expectations established by the state board and Legislature.

(g) In addition to the policy-oriented objectives set forth in subsection (f) of this section, the plan established pursuant to this section also shall include at least the following performance-oriented objectives:

(1) All children entering the first grade will be ready for the first grade;

(2) The performance of students falling in the lowest quartile on national and international measures of student performance will improve by fifty percent;

(3) Ninety percent of ninth graders will graduate from high school;

(4) By two thousand twelve 2020, the gap between the county with the lowest college-going rate and the state average as of the effective date of this act will decrease by fifty percent and the college-going rate of the state will equal the college-going rate of the member states of the Southern Regional Education Board; and

(5) By two thousand twenty, the gap between the county with the lowest college-going rate and the state average for school year two thousand twelve will decrease by fifty percent and the college-going rate of the state will exceed the college-going rate of the member states of the Southern Regional Education Board by five percentage points.

(h) The state board annually shall evaluate and report the performance and progress on achieving the Vision 2020: An Education Blueprint for Two Thousand Twenty goals and the associated policy-oriented and performance-oriented objectives to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-2-5g. Review and determination of principal and teacher reports; identify reports with recommendations to Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

(a) The state board annually shall review and evaluate the list of reports required to be written by principals and teachers in order to determine which reports are repetitive, unnecessary, counterproductive or outdated so that the administrative burden on principals and teachers may be lessened.

(b) The state board shall submit a report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability no later than December 31 of each year identifying those unnecessary reports, together with any comments and recommendations on how to reduce or consolidate principal and teacher reports.

ARTICLE 5. COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-5-45. School calendar.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Instructional day” means a day within the instructional term which meets the following criteria:

(A) Instruction is offered to students for at least the minimum amount of hours provided by state board rule;

(B) Instructional time is used for instruction and cocurricular activities; and

(2) “Cocurricular activities” are activities that are closely related to identifiable academic programs or areas of study that serve to complement academic curricula as further defined by the state board.

(b) Findings. –

(1) The primary purpose of the school system is to provide instruction for students.

(2) The school calendar, as defined in this section, is designed to define the school term both for employees and for instruction.

(3) The school calendar shall provide for one hundred eighty separate instructional days.

(1) An employment term that excludes Saturdays and Sundays and consists of at least two hundred days, which need not be successive. The beginning and closing dates of the employment term may not exceed forty-eight weeks;

(2) Within the employment term, an instructional term for students of no less than one hundred eighty separate instructional days, which includes an inclement weather and emergencies plan designed to guarantee an instructional term for students of no less than one hundred eighty separate instructional days;

(3) Within the employment term, noninstructional days shall total twenty and shall be comprised of the following:

(A) Seven paid holidays;

(B) Election day as specified in section two, article five, chapter eighteen-a of this code;

(C) Six days to be designated by the county board to be used by the employees outside the school environment, with at least four outside the school environment days scheduled to occur after the one hundred and thirtieth instructional day of the school calendar; and

(D) The remaining days to be designated by the county board for purposes to include, but not be limited to:

(i) Curriculum development;

(ii) Preparation for opening and closing school;

(iii) Professional development;

(iv) Teacher-pupil-parent conferences;

(v) Professional meetings;

(vi) Making up days when instruction was scheduled but not conducted; and

(vii) At least four two-hour blocks of time for faculty senate meetings with each two-hour block of time scheduled once at least every forty-five instructional days; and

(4) Scheduled out-of-calendar days that are to be used for instructional days in the event school is canceled for any reason.

(d) A county board of education shall develop a policy that requires additional minutes of instruction in the school day or additional days of instruction to recover time lost due to late arrivals and early dismissals.

(e) If it is not possible to complete one hundred eighty separate instructional days with the current school calendar, the county board shall schedule instruction on any available noninstructional day, regardless of the purpose for which the day originally was scheduled, or an out-of-calendar day and the day will be used for instruction of students: Provided, That the provisions of this subsection do not apply to:

(A) Holidays;

(B) Election day;

(f) The instructional term shall commence and terminate on a date selected by the county board.

(g) The state board may not schedule the primary statewide assessment program more than thirty days prior to the end of the instructional year unless the state board determines that the nature of the test mandates an earlier testing date.

(h) The following applies to cocurricular activities:

(1) The state board shall determine what activities may be considered cocurricular;

(2) The state board shall determine the amount of instructional time that may be consumed by cocurricular activities; and

(3) Other requirements or restrictions the state board may provide in the rule required to be promulgated by this section.

(i) Extracurricular activities may not be used for instructional time.

(j) Noninstructional interruptions to the instructional day shall be minimized to allow the classroom teacher to teach.

(k) Prior to implementing the school calendar, the county board shall secure approval of its proposed calendar from the state board or, if so designated by the state board, from the state superintendent.

(l) In formulation of a school’s calendar, a county school board shall hold at least two public meetings that allow parents, teachers, teacher organizations, businesses and other interested parties within the county to discuss the school calendar. The public notice of the date, time and place of the public hearing must be published in a local newspaper of general circulation in the area as a Class II legal advertisement, in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code.

(m) The county board may contract with all or part of the personnel for a longer term of employment.

(n) The minimum instructional term may be decreased by order of the state superintendent in any county declared a federal disaster area and where the event causing the declaration is substantially related to a reduction of instructional days.

(o) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the state board may grant a waiver to a county board for its noncompliance with provisions of chapter eighteen, eighteen-a, eighteen-b and eighteen-c of this code to maintain compliance in reaching the mandatory one hundred eighty separate instructional days established in this section.

(p) The state board shall promulgate a rule in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this section.

(q) The amendments to this section during the 2013 regular session of the Legislature shall be effective for school years beginning on or after July 1, 2014, and the provisions of this section existing immediately prior to the 2013 regular session of the Legislature remain in effect for school years beginning prior to July 1, 2014.

ARTICLE 8. COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

§18-8-6a. Incentive for county board participation in circuit court juvenile probation truancy programs.

A county board that enters into a truancy program agreement with the circuit court of the county that (1) provides for the referral of truant juveniles for supervision by the court’s probation office pursuant to section eleven, article five, chapter forty-nine of this code and (2) requires the county board to pay for the costs of the probation officer or officers assigned to supervise truant juveniles, shall be reimbursed for one-half of the costs of the probation officer or officers, subject to appropriation of the Legislature for this purpose to the West Virginia Department of Education. For any year in which the funds appropriated are insufficient to cover the reimbursement costs, the county’s costs shall be reimbursed pro rata.

ARTICLE 9A. PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPORT.

§18-9A-10. Foundation allowance to improve instructional programs.

(a) The total allowance to improve instructional programs shall be the sum of the following:

(1) For instructional improvement, in accordance with county and school electronic strategic improvement plans required by section five, article two-e of this chapter, an amount equal to fifteen percent of the increase in the local share amount for the next school year above any required allocation pursuant to section six-b of this article shall be added to the amount of the appropriation for this purpose for the immediately preceding school year: Provided, That effective July 1, 2014, an amount equal to ten percent of the increase in the local share amount for the next school year above any required allocation pursuant to section six-b of this article shall be added to the amount of the appropriation for this purpose for the immediately preceding school year. The sum of these amounts shall be distributed to the counties as follows:

(A) One hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be allocated to each county; and

(B) Distribution to the counties of the remainder of these funds shall be made proportional to the average of each county’s average daily attendance for the preceding year and the county’s second month net enrollment.

Moneys allocated by provision of this section subdivision shall be used to improve instructional programs according to the county and school electronic strategic improvement plans required by section five, article two-e of this chapter and approved by the state board: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, moneys allocated by provision of this section also may also be used in the implementation and maintenance of the uniform integrated regional computer information system.

Up to twenty-five percent of this allocation may be used to employ professional educators and service personnel in counties after all applicable provisions of sections four and five of this article have been fully utilized.

Prior to the use of any funds from this section subdivision for personnel costs, the county board must receive authorization from the state superintendent. of Schools The state superintendent shall require the county board to demonstrate: (1) The need for the allocation; (2) efficiency and fiscal responsibility in staffing; (3) sharing of services with adjoining counties and the regional educational service agency for that county in the use of the total local district board budget; and (4) employment of technology integration specialists to meet the needs for implementation of the West Virginia 21st Century Strategic Technology Learning Plan. County boards shall make application for available funds the use of funds for personnel for the next fiscal year by May 1 of each year. On or before June 1, the state superintendent shall review all applications and notify applying county boards of the distribution of the allocation. The funds shall be distributed approval or disapproval of the use of funds for personnel during the fiscal year appropriate. The state superintendent shall require the county board to demonstrate the need for an allocation for personnel based upon the county’s inability to meet the requirements of state law or state board policy.

The provisions relating to the use of any funds from this subdivision for personnel costs are subject to the following: (1) Provided, That The funds available for personnel under this section subsection may not be used to increase the total number of professional noninstructional personnel in the central office beyond four; and (2) For the school year beginning July 1, 2013, and thereafter, any funds available to a county for use for personnel above the amount available for the 2012-2013 school year, only may be used for technology systems specialists until the state superintendent determines that the county has sufficient technology systems specialists to serve the needs of the county.

The plan shall be made available for distribution to the public at the office of each affected county board; plus

(2) For the purposes of the West Virginia 21st Century Strategic Technology Learning Plan provided for in section seven, article two-e of this chapter improving instructional technology, an amount equal to fifteen percent of the increase in the local share amount for the next school year above any required allocation pursuant to section six-b of this article shall be added to the amount of the appropriation for this purpose for the immediately preceding school year: Provided, That effective July 1, 2014, an amount equal to twenty percent of the increase in the local share amount for the next school year above any required allocation pursuant to section six-b of this article shall be added to the amount of the appropriation for this purpose for the immediately preceding school year. The sum of these amounts shall be allocated to the counties as provided in section seven, article two-e of this chapter to meet the objectives of the West Virginia 21st Century Strategic Technology Learning Plan: Provided, That effective July 1, 2014, the sum of these amounts shall be distributed to the counties as follows:

(A) Thirty thousand dollars shall be allocated to each county; and

Effective July 1, 2014, moneys allocated by provision of this subdivision shall be used to improve instructional technology programs according to the county and school strategic improvement plans; plus

(3) One percent of the state average per pupil state aid multiplied by the number of students enrolled in dual credit, advanced placement and international baccalaureate courses, as defined by the state board, distributed to the counties proportionate to enrollment in these courses in each county; plus

(4) An amount not less than the amount required to meet debt service requirements on any revenue bonds issued prior to January 1, 1994, and the debt service requirements on any revenue bonds issued for the purpose of refunding revenue bonds issued prior to January 1, 1994, shall be paid into the School Building Capital Improvements Fund created by section six, article nine-d of this chapter and shall be used solely for the purposes of that article. The School Building Capital Improvements Fund shall not be utilized to meet the debt services requirement on any revenue bonds or revenue refunding bonds for which moneys contained within the School Building Debt Service Fund have been pledged for repayment pursuant to that section.

(b) When the school improvement bonds secured by funds from the School Building Capital Improvements Fund mature, the state Board of Education shall annually deposit an amount equal to $24,000,000 from the funds allocated in this section into the School Construction Fund created pursuant to the provisions of section six, article nine-d of this chapter to continue funding school facility construction and improvements.

(c) Any project funded by the School Building Authority shall be in accordance with a comprehensive educational facility plan which must be approved by the state board and the School Building Authority.

ARTICLE 17. WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOLS FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND.

§18-17-8. Continuing contract status established; dismissal and suspension procedures.

Before entering upon their duties, all teachers shall execute a contract with the state board, of Education which contract shall state the salary to be paid and shall be in the form prescribed by the state superintendent. of Schools Every such contract shall be signed by the teacher and by the president and secretary of the state board. of Education

A teacher's contract, under this section, shall be for a term of not less than one nor more than three years; and if, after three years of such employment, the teacher who holds a professional certificate, based on at least a bachelor's degree, has met the qualifications for the same, and the Board of Education state board enter into a new contract of employment, it shall be a continuing contract.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the state board of Education may suspend or dismiss any teacher, auxiliary personnel or service personnel, subject to the provisions of this article, with continuing contract status, for immorality, incompetency, cruelty, insubordination, intemperance or willful neglect of duty. but The charges shall be stated in writing and the teacher, auxiliary personnel or service personnel affected shall be given an opportunity to be heard by the state board, sitting as a hearing board, or by an assigned hearing examiner employed by the state board to preside at the taking of evidence upon not less than ten days' written notice. which charges and notice shall be served on the teacher within five days of the presentation of the charges to the state board. The hearing may be held at a regular meeting of the state board or at a special meeting called for that purpose. A hearing examiner shall prepare his or her own proposed finding and recommendation, make copies of the findings available to the parties and then submit the entire record to the state board for final decision. The state board shall set a time and place for hearing of arguments by the parties on the record at a regular meeting of the state board or at a special meeting called for that purpose and shall deliberate and issue a decision at the conclusion of arguments. Written notice of the final decision shall be served within five days of the state board’s consideration of the matter.

Adopted

Rejected