H. B. 4667
(By Delegate Given)
[Introduced February 27, 1998; referred to the
Committee on Education.]
A BILL to amend article five, chapter eighteen of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, by adding a new section, designated section
forty-four, relating to establishing a pilot alternative
educational program for the development of proper social and
behavioral skills including improvement of self-image,
self- esteem and self-accountability; legislative findings;
establishing a three-year pilot program to be administered
by the boards of education of Putnam and Mercer counties;
powers and duties; funding for the program; reports to the
legislative oversight commission on education
accountability.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article five, chapter eighteen of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section
forty-four, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 5. COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-5-44. Pilot program for alternative education for social and
behavioral skills.
(a) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this section is
to create a framework for establishing an alternative education
program to address the following findings:
(1) Many students are restricted in their ability to achieve
academic success because of limited or inappropriate social
skills and behavior, including inadequate self-image, self-esteem
and self-efficacy and lack of self-accountability and positive
motivation; and
(2) In order for these students to have the ability to achieve
their maximum academic potential, these students need special
assistance and training to develop proper social skills and
behavior patterns conducive to adequate academic achievement;
and
(3) The traditional training and expertise of secondary
teachers and administrative personnel does not include adequate
training for the development of these social skills in such
students and a program of education to provide such training and
instruction to such students should employ qualified instructors
to provide specific courses of instruction; and
(4) It is therefore the purpose of this section to establish
a pilot program to develop an alternative educational program to
address the findings of this section.
(b) Subject to appropriation of the Legislature, the county
boards of education of Putnam County and Mercer County are hereby
authorize to establish a three-year pilot program, commencing the
first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight, for
alternative education and training of social skills and
appropriate behavior for students in said counties, consistent
with the findings and purposes established in this section. The
said boards of education shall have the following powers and
duties in establishing such a pilot program and carrying out the
intent of this section:
(1) Establish an alternative educational program for the
development of adequate and appropriate social skills and
behavior and to improve self-image, self-esteem, self-efficacy,
self-accountability and constructive self-motivation, conducive
to achievement of academic potential;
(2) Offer courses of instruction and program of various types
and levels to meet the objectives of this section;
(3) Develop criteria to determine eligibility of students in
need of such education;
(4) Contract for services from entities in the private sector
for delivery of the educational program: Provided, That such contracts shall specify the schools in which the program shall be
offered, the various equipment and technology, if appropriate,
for program delivery, the types of and content of courses to be
provided, the course instructors and their training requirements,
a method of accounting of the funds expended for the program and
any other issues relevant to the program administration.
(c) The pilot program shall commence on the first day of July,
one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight and continue until the
thirtieth day of June, two thousand one, unless sooner terminated
by the Legislature. On the first day of December of each year of
the program, the boards of education shall report to the
legislative oversight commission on education accountability on
the progress of the program, whether it should be continued, any
recommended modifications in the program's scope and mission and
whether any action is necessary by the Legislature to improve the
success of the program.
(d) The state board of education shall fund, from funds
appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of implementing
the program established by this section. Nothing in this section
may be construed to require any specific level of funding by the
Legislature.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish a pilot
alternative educational program to develop proper social and
behavioral skills in students lacking in such skills, in order to
allow and assist such students to achieve their academic achievement potential.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.