§18-2E-1a. Assessment and accountability programs; duties of the state board.
(a) In order to further the purposes of this article, on or before the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, the state board shall develop and recommend to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability an assessment program to measure the progress of public school students in attaining a high quality education. In addition, to further the purposes of this article, on or before the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, the state board shall develop and recommend to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability an accountability program to help ensure a thorough and efficient system of schools. In developing the assessment program and the accountability program, the state board shall take into consideration recommendations arising from any legislative interim study undertaken at the direction of the joint committee on government and finance and also shall take into consideration any recommendations made by the legislative oversight commission on education accountability.

(b) As part of their on-going responsibility for developing and implementing a program of assessments and a program of accountability, the state board shall perform the following functions:

(1) Review assessment tools, including tests of student performance and measures of school and school system performance, and determine when any improvements or additions are necessary;

(2) Consider multiple assessments, including, but not limited to, a state testing program developed in conjunction with the state's professional educators with assistance from such knowledgeable consultants as may be necessary, which may include criterion referenced tests;

(3) Review all accountability measures, such as the accreditation and personnel evaluation systems and consider any improvements or additions deemed necessary; and

(4) Ensure that all statewide assessments of student performance are secure.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session