H. B. 4508
(By Delegates Canterbury, Poling, Fox, Beach,
Dempsey, Shaver and Carmichael)
(Originating in the Committee on Education)
[February 15, 2002]
A BILL to amend article two-e, chapter eighteen of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section
three-e, relating to creating the West Virginia Science
Education Enhancement Initiative competitive grant program;
providing legislative intent and purpose; specifying
priorities for grant awards; and providing procedures for
grant application and selection.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article two-e, 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
three-e, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2E. HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
§18-2E-3e. West Virginia Science Education Enhancement
Initiative grant program created; legislative findings and
purpose of section.
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and acknowledges that, if
remediation is necessary, it should be provided when students are
younger and before patterns of failure are established. The
Legislature further acknowledges that the people of West Virginia
would be better served if the state acted to ensure that all
public school students were able to execute science skills at or
above grade level upon exiting grade eight, that county boards
are in the best position to determine if remediation is necessary
for students in grades four through eight and that the counties
should have the option of providing summer school for students
and may consider student attendance as a factor in determining
whether a child is eligible to be promoted to the next grade.
The Legislature further finds that not all students are
financially able to pay for summer school, nor do all county
schools hold summer school. It is, therefore, the purpose of
this section to help the county boards to provide, either
individually or cooperatively, free summer school and summer
school transportation for those students in grades four through
eight who did not perform at grade level during the regular
school year. It also is the purpose of this section to help
students in grades four through eight who are identified as being
in danger of failing to execute science skills at grade level by
the end of the school year to receive intensive science
instruction during their regularly scheduled science time
throughout the regular school year.
(b) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature therefor,
the state board shall establish a competitive grant program as
set forth in this section to provide science programs for
students in grades four through eight who are not performing at
grade level. The program shall be designated and known as the
"West Virginia Science Education Enhancement Initiative" program.
(c) Priorities for awarding the grants shall include, but
are not limited to:
(1) Schools that have science test scores below the state
standards; or
(2) Schools that receive federal funds for the improvement
of science.
(d) Competitive grant applications must be submitted by the
county boards, or by a community collaborative with the county
board as a partner with leadership responsibility, and shall
describe how the program will:
(1) Employ strategies, proven methods and innovative
techniques for student learning, teaching and school management
that are based on reliable research and effective practices, and
can be replicated in other schools to improve the science skills
of students;
(2) Contain measurable goals for the improvement of student
science skills and benchmarks for meeting those goals;
(3) Include a plan for the evaluation of student progress
toward achieving the state's high standards;
(4) Identify how other federal, state, local and private
resources, including volunteers, will be utilized to further the
intent of this section;
(5) Link summer improvement programs for science with
science instruction and remediation throughout the school year;
(6) Determine the feasibility of collaborating with colleges
of education for the purpose of providing educational experiences
for prospective teachers;
(7) Identify the use of technology, including computers and
calculators, and demonstrate how technology will be integrated
into the program; and
(8) Accomplish other objectives as deemed necessary by the
state board.
(e) Any county receiving a grant should encourage students
in grades four through eight who did not perform at grade level
during the regular school year to attend summer school and may
consider summer school attendance as a factor in determining
whether a child is eligible to be promoted to the next grade.
The county board shall provide intensive science instruction
during regularly scheduled science time throughout the regular
school year to students in grades four through eight who are
identified by the classroom teacher as being in danger of failing
to execute science skills at grade level by the end of the school
year. Nothing in this section prohibits county boards from
permitting students to participate in science programs on a student fee basis.
(f) The state board shall approve procedures for the
implementation of this section. To assist the state board in
developing procedures for the implementation of this section,
including the grant application and the grant review and
selection process, the state board shall appoint an advisory
board consisting of the science education coordinator from the
state department of education, a college or university professor
of science, a county science curriculum specialist, an elementary
teacher and an elementary principal, a middle school teacher with
a science certification and a middle school principal, a science
teacher with a certificate issued by the national board of
professional teaching standards, if available, and a
representative from the West Virginia science teachers
association, or a representative of the like successor
organization should this named organization cease to exist. The
procedures shall provide for:
(1) The appointment of a grant review and selection panel by
the state board consisting of persons with expertise and
practical experience in delivering programs to increase the
science skills of young students, not more than one half of whom
may be employees of the state department of education, or the
state board may designate the advisory board as the grant review
and selection panel;
(2) Notice to all schools of the grant competition and the availability of applications on or before the thirtieth day of
September, in each fiscal year for which grant funds are
available;
(3) A grant application deadline postmarked on or before the
fifteenth day of December, in each fiscal year for which grant
funds are available;
(4) Notice of grant awards on or before the first day of
March, in each fiscal year for which grant funds are available;
and
(5) Other such requirements as deemed necessary by the state
board.
(g) The state board may fund, from any other funds available
for such purposes, the programs required by this section for
students in grades four through eight and any programs required
by state board rules such as, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Tutoring;
(2) Summer school educational services;
(3) Additional certified personnel to provide intensive
instruction in science throughout the school year;
(4) Staff development for teachers; and
(5) Hot meal programs.
(h) Nothing in this section supersedes the individualized
education program (IEP) of any student.
(i) Nothing in this section requires any specific level of
funding by the Legislature.