HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 56

(By Delegates Caputo, Prunty, Manchin, Williams,

Fragale, Mezzatesta, Varner, Coleman, Fox,

Kuhn, Shaver and Stalnaker)


[Introduced April 3, 2001; referred to the

Committee on Rules.]


Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct a study of the cost to local schools and Boards of Education of providing alternative educational programs to disruptive students expelled or suspended from school for acts which threaten the productivity and safety of schools as established in §18A-5-1a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended and in 126 CSR 20-6.1.2, Regulations for Alternative Education Programs for Disruptive Students.

Whereas, To promote safety and productivity in West Virginia's schools, the Legislature has provided that school students may be expelled or suspended for committing certain criminal acts or for repeated violations of county school discipline policies; and
Whereas, The State Board of Education, county boards of education and local schools expend large sums of money and other resources to carry out present policies related to alternative education of disruptive students; and
Whereas, The Legislature does not presently receive adequate information on the amount of money and other resources being devoted to alternative education of students to assess the efficiency of the alternative education program and whether present policies best meet the needs and interests of students, local schools, County Boards of Education and the state; 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 of the resources being expended for the state's alternative education program for disruptive students as it relates to productive and safe schools; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2002, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effect its recommendations; 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.