The Joint Committee on Education met this afternoon. First, the committee received an update on the implementation of House Bill 3035 and House Bill 5405.
HB 5405 provides for the professional development of educators. According to the Superintendent, the Department of Education is planning to use the $14 million over several years. The funds will be used to provide additional math specialists ($3.5 million) and provide K-3 teachers and administrators with development in the science of reading ($5.4 million). The remaining $5.1 will be used to help support less certified teachers to become fully certified and provide professional development for other teachers.
The bill also provided $1 million for county grants. The department will be awarding up to 20 $25,000 grants to counties in January or February 2025. Counties will also have the option to receive an additional $25,000 in year two. An additional grant period may be scheduled if all funds aren’t awarded in round one.
House Bill 3035 is the Third Grade Success Act. The goal is to have 80 percent fidelity in the next three years. This year, over 1,700 teachers attended the Summer INVEST Conference in Morgantown and Charleston. Funding for the act is coming from the Early Literacy Fund ($5.7 million) and the Mathematics Fund ($886,000). The Department will work with schools to set goals, provide action steps, and continue data collection.
To impact student achievement, schools must address basic needs, attendance, discipline, and mental health. To address these, the department is using resources that already exist. In an initiative called STRIVE WV, the department is pointing students and educators to resources that already exist in the state for student well-being and school success. STRIVE WV = Strengthen Behavior responses, Targeted assistance, Regular assistance, Increased achievement, Valid data practices, and Empower support teams.
Finally, the committee heard from HBCU Bound Athletics about attracting student-athletes to WV’s historically black colleges and universities. The non-profit organization helps lower-income high school students with recruiting to colleges to bring more student-athletes to WV with a focus on HBCUs. The goal is to show students what resources are available to them for college and educate them on what scholarships are available and what they need to attend college as an athlete.
