COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

H. B. 4260

(By Delegates Perry, Williams, Beach, Stephens, Crosier, Eldridge and ArgentoDelegates Name)


(Originating in the House Committee on EducationCommittee)

[February 10Month and Day, 2006]


A BILL to amend and reenact §18-2E-5bBill Title of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to review of system of education performance audits; findings; system goals; additional specific objectives; reports to oversight commission. Title Language

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §18-2E-5b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2E. HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

§18-2E-5b. Review of system of education performance audits by State Board and Superintendent; reports to Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

(a) The Legislature finds that the Process for Improving Education embodied in section five of this article and endorsed by the State Board also has been recognized by the judicial branch of this state as a new paradigm for judging the provision of a thorough and efficient education by the resulting performance and progress of the students. The Legislature further finds that a system of education performance audits is a valuable tool for determining the quality of education provided in the public schools, of our state and for holding schools and school systems accountable and for informing the State Board and the Legislature of needed improvements.
(b) Essential goals for a system of education performance audits include the following:
(1) To assure that the measures used to evaluate performance and progress are clearly aligned with the education goals and expectations established for student, school and school system performance and progress, including student success in postsecondary education and work;
(2) To assure that the measures used reflect a priority for student performance and progress and safety in a safe and productive learning environment; and
(3) To assure that the measures used are limited in number, and easily comparable to include national performance indicators, and minimize the administrative and procedural costs and burdens necessary for compliance.
(c) The State Board and State Superintendent shall conduct a review of the system of education performance audits with the objective of achieving the goals set forth in subsection (b) of this section and including, but not limited to the following additional specific objectives:
(1) Assuring that appropriate accountability standards, procedures and processes have been established by the Office of Education Performance Audits;
(2) Insuring that the accountability system is achieving the expected outcomes established by the Legislature, the State Board and the No Child Left Behind Act;
(3) Insuring that the administrative and procedural costs and burdens necessary for compliance are minimized; and
(4) Informing the State Board on the appropriate changes that are to be made in the policies and procedures of the Office of Education Performance Audits.
(d) The State Board
shall submit make progress reports on its work as requested by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability. The State Board shall submit make a final report including, but not limited to, any necessary revisions of its policy on the system of education performance audits and any recommendations for statutory changes to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability not later than its by the first day of December, two thousand one six, legislative interim meetings.
(d) In conducting its review, the state board shall examine for potential use in the system of education performance audits, any indicators used by various organizations to compare the performance of state education systems.
(e) The state board also shall consider methods for assigning accreditation status, such as weighting the attainment of performance standards, so that high performing schools and school systems can be fully accredited while correcting deficiencies on the process standards:
Provided, That process standards affecting the safety of students are weighted equally with the performance standards.

Strike-throughs indicate existing language that would be removed, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.