HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 132

(By Delegates Lawrence, M. Poling, Paxton, Barill, D. Campbell, Crosier, Ennis, Moye, Perry, Pethtel, Shaver, Smith, Walker, Duke, Sumner, Armstead, Ellington, Gearheart, Rowan and Sigler)

[Originating in the Committee on Education]

(March 4, 2011)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct a study on methods to help instill within students the importance of performing to the best of their ability on the state summative assessment; to provide routine strategies for additional intervention that reinforces the preparation of students whose assessment scores indicate that they are not prepared for success at the next grade level; and to ensure that the additional intervention is provided for those students who truly need additional preparation and that students are exempted whose true level of proficiency is above the level reflected on this particular assessment.

    Whereas, Students who do not master the content areas of reading, language arts and mathematics at their current grade level become increasingly less likely to succeed at each successively higher grade level and later in life and, therefore, it is critically important to ensure that additional intervention strategies are available to reinforce the preparation of students who are not prepared fully; and

    Whereas, Student proficiency in reading, language arts and mathematics in grades 3 through 11 is currently assessed through the state summative assessment (currently known as the WESTEST2), and the results of this assessment indicate that substantial numbers of students have not adequately mastered these subjects at their grade level; and

    Whereas, The state places considerable weight on the results of the state summative assessment as a measure of whether schools and school systems are fully preparing students for success at the next grade level, and the results have consequences for schools and school systems, but routine strategies to reinforce the preparation of students whose scores indicate that they are not prepared fully are lacking; and

    Whereas, Because the additional effort required to provide additional intervention strategies may be substantial, there is a need to: First, ensure that the data on student performance on the state summative assessment accurately reflects the true level of each student’s mastery of the content (and not a lack of student engagement in performing to the best of their ability because the assessment has no consequences for the students themselves); and also to ensure that the additional intervention is focused on those students who truly need additional assistance and not those whose true level of proficiency is above the level reflected on this particular assessment; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct a study on methods to help instill within students the importance of performing to the best of their ability on the state summative assessment; to provide routine strategies for additional intervention that reinforces the preparation of students whose assessment scores indicate that they are not prepared for success at the next grade level; and to ensure that the additional intervention is provided for those students who truly need additional preparation and that students are exempted whose true level of proficiency is above the level reflected on this particular assessment; and be it

    Further Resolved, That as a part of the study, input is sought from teachers, administrators, county boards of education and parents on the various methods to achieve these objectives and their potential educational and financial impact; and

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is requested to report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2012, 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.