The Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability (LOCEA) met this afternoon. First, the School Year 2024-2025 Critical Need and Shortage Report was presented by Dr. Sonya White, Deputy Superintendent of the West Virginia Department of Education. Critical needs counties are counties that employ retired teachers for 120 or more days as substitutes. In 2024-2025, there were 3 fewer counties in critical need of teachers and 1 fewer county for bus drivers. Additionally, 67 fewer retired teachers were needed, but five more bus drivers were needed. The area with the most critical need is special needs teachers, with 79 needed. The next area of critical need is PreK through elementary.
Next, the Annual County Board of Education Accountability Report was provided. Counties with accountability issues fall into three categories: 1. on watch, where the county sets a structure for improvement and the state department of education monitors; 2. on support, where the state department of education addresses the plan and monitors closely to provide technical support; and 3. intensive, where county must report to state department of education quarterly on improvements. Specialists offer technical support and are in each county monthly. Nearly half of WV counties met accountability requirements. Math and English language scores are still lower. There has been a reduction in chronic absenteeism. Transportation effectiveness is low in several counties. Ohio and Hampshire counties are the only ones not needing support. The State Department of Education has concerns with federal funding cuts, as it will affect education programs. Members had several requests for various reports, including teachers’ attendance, county board effectiveness, post-graduation outcomes, and how absences due to county transportation issues affect student absenteeism.
