The Legislative Oversight Committee on Education Accountability met this afternoon.
LOCEA heard several rule changes to Administrative Rule 133 – Higher Education Policy Commission, which stem from the passage of House Bill 5212.
The change to WVHEPC, 133-07, WV PROMISE Scholarship Program is that the GPA requirement of 3.0 was changed from only core courses to a 3.0 overall GPA. The changes in WVHEPC, 133-34, Medical Student Loan Program include extending the sunset to 2032 and changing the award amount to $20,000 per academic year. The changes to WVHEPC, 133-41, Health Sciences Loan Repayment Program include extending the sunset to 2032, adding occupational therapists, changing the name of the program, and adding a definition for part-time to include students working part-time. The changes to WVHEPC, 133-63, Mental Health Provider Loan Repayment Program include extending the sunset to 2032, changing the name of the program, and changing the definition of part-time.
The changes to WVHEPC, 133-42, WV Higher Education Grant Program include extending the sunset date to 2032 and adding a definition of part-time. The changes to WVHEPC, 133-06, Higher Education Future Workforce Grant Program include changing the name of the grant, extending the sunset date to 2032, removing the language relating to HEAPS as it is included in another rule, and removing requirements to allow for flexibility.
The Department of Education provided a few updates. The annual report for retired teachers and bus operators as critical need substitutes was provided. There are 149 retired personnel approved to return for 140 days and not lose their retirement benefits. The End-of-Year Assessment was reviewed, and students in the intervention target had decreased from the beginning of last school year to the end of it. The School Discipline Report was also reviewed.
