COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
Senate Bill No. 65
(By Senators Oliverio, Chafin, Edgell, Wells, Minard and Fanning)
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[Originating in the Committee on Finance;
reported February 21, 2008.]
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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-35a, relating
to establishment of the school uniforms incentive plan pilot
program; providing funding for certain public elementary
schools which adopt and implement school uniform policies;
directing how funds may be spent; and requiring progress
report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education
Accountability.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-35a, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-2-35a. School uniforms incentive plan pilot program.
(a) The purpose of the Legislature in enacting this section is to establish the school uniforms incentive plan pilot program in
the public schools of this state. The Legislature shall allocate
one hundred thousand dollars to the state board to provide funding
for up to ten public elementary schools to participate in the pilot
program during the two thousand eight--two thousand nine school
year. The state board shall select to participate in the pilot
program the first ten public elementary schools which apply and
which meet the criteria of this section by adopting and
implementing school uniform policies pursuant to section
thirty-five of this article.
(b) Each public elementary school approved by the state board
to participate in the pilot program shall receive a grant of ten
thousand dollars allocated by the state board from legislative
appropriations made for this purpose.
(c) The faculty senate at each participating elementary
school, with advice from the local school improvement council,
shall control and expend the funds allocated in accordance with the
provisions of this section. These funds may only be expended with
the approval of the school principal and may be expended for the
following purposes to benefit the school and its students:
(1) To improve school safety;
(2) To purchase school uniforms, academic materials, computers
and technology, supplies or equipment;
(3) To refurbish school playgrounds;
(4) To enhance student behavior;
(5) To increase academic achievement;
(6) To improve self-esteem; and
(7) To address the problems of at-risk students.
(d) The state superintendent shall report to the Legislative
Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by the beginning
of the two thousand nine legislative session on progress in
implementing the provisions of this section.