SCR 1 Text

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15
(By Senators Plymale, Wells, Foster, Stollings, Unger, Browning, Boley and Guills)
[Originating in the Committee on Education]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the issue of student performance in relation to instructional time and the issue of counting as full instructional days those days which have two hour delays or early dismissals.

Whereas, there is some evidence indicating that the amount of time spent in engaged academic learning in school correlates positively with academic achievement, particularly in reading,
math and science, and especially for low performing students; and
Whereas, a study of Grade 8 students in 39 countries found a moderate positive association between total school days per year and mathematics and science scores, such that students in countries with longer school years also had higher achievement rates in these areas of study; and
Whereas, the majority of states, including West Virginia, set the school year at 180 days; and
Whereas, only three counties in West Virginia met the
statutorily mandated 180 days with half falling at or below 176
days in 2008-2009; and
Whereas, unscheduled two hour delays or early dismissals were called in the state an average of 6.9 days during the 2008- 2009 school year due to inclement weather; therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study instructional time in and for the state; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2011,
on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with
drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its
recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct
this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary
legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance.

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