HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 127

(Delegates Westfall, Cooper, Wilson, Rowan, Pyles, Romine, Evans, Statler, Espinosa, Wagner, and Blair)

[Originating in the Committee on Education; Reported on April 5, 2017]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct an interim study on areas for removing from law and policy barriers to operational efficiency in the public schools.

Whereas, The constitutional responsibility of the Legislature includes providing for a system of schools which is efficient; and

Whereas, Operational efficiency means achieving a policy objective effectively at the lowest possible cost; and

Whereas, Barriers in law and policy include:

(a) Overly prescriptive processes that unnecessarily add to the cost of achieving a policy objective effectively;

(b) Requirements in law and policy that unnecessarily add to the cost of or impede the provision of a system of schools that is safe and enables students to obtain a thorough education; and

(c) The absence of authority or flexibility in law and policy that limit or impede the provision of a system of schools that is safe and enables students to obtain a thorough education; therefore be it:

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct an interim study on areas for removing from law and policy barriers to operational efficiency in the public schools; and be it

Further Resolved, That as a part of this study, a copy of this resolution should be provided to each of the county superintendents of schools to solicit their input on barriers in law and policy that should be removed to improve operational efficiency in the public schools; and be it

Further Resolved, That a report of the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the study, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate the recommendations be reported to the Legislature at its 2017 Regular Session; and be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and draft necessary legislation are requested to be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.