H. B. 4443


(By Delegate Facemyer, By Request)
[Introduced February 11, 1994; referred to the
Committee on Education then Finance.]




A BILL to amend article two, chapter eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section thirty-two, relating to public notice of educational reform through all forms of media.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That article two, chapter eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section thirty-two to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§ 18-2-32. Public participation in educational reform.

(a) Whenever there is to be any new educational reform within any public schools or certification of educators with respect to curriculum, grading or the processing of information, there shall be public notice of such reform in all forms of existing media. Existing media includes, but is not limited to, newspapers in all communities, radio stations and both private and public television stations. In addition, notice of such reform shall be sent home with students in all schools. This notice of educational reform shall be provided through the media and otherwise at least once every seven days for a period of at least ninety days.
(b) After such notice is provided, the public shall be permitted to comment for a period of at least six months. During the six month period, there shall be at least six public hearings to be held at least thirty days apart in various locations in the state of which at least one hearing shall be held in each of the northern, southern, eastern and western parts of the state.
(c) After this period for public comment has been terminated, the notice of such reform shall be publicly announced as stated in subsection (a), providing the public a final opportunity for comment, for a period of at least thirty days prior to a vote on the reform.
(d) Any revision of such reform is subject to the same opportunity for public comment provided for in subsections (a) through (c) of this section.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require that the public have notice of any proposed educational reform through all media.

Section thirty-two, article two, chapter eighteen is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.