The Senate Education Committee met at 2 p.m. Thursday and discussed House bill 4412, which provides that federal programs that pay tuition and fees directly to higher education institutions for students who are members of the Air National Guard and Army National Guard will be the first payer of institutional fees, rather than the last.
Jerry Wood, director of the West Virginia University Center for Veteran, Military and Family programs, spoke in favor of the bill and answered questions from the committee. Wood said he conducted research to calculate the savings this bill would have for active duty and veteran students. He said that other states were implementing similar programs, and that the bill had the approval of the Veterans Association. “This bill would not only affect WVU, but every institution of higher learning with VA benefits,” he said. The bill was advanced to be reported to the full Senate.
House bill 4398 was advanced as well. This bill incorporates the original texts of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and its amendments, the Bill of Rights, the Federalist Papers and the Constitution of West Virginia into the current required curriculum in schools.
The bill also requires that the subject of health education is to be taught in any grades 6-12 considered appropriate by the state Board of Education, covering subjects such as substance abuse and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. The bill provides that parents are to be given advance notice of this course curriculum and given the opportunity to have their child exempted from participation of that instruction.
There was some discussion and concern about this bill by members of the committee. Senator John Unger, D-Berkeley, stated his disapproval of the bill. He argued that this was a way of micromanaging education and that the bill was unnecessary.
Two representatives from the state Board of Education answered questions from the committee. They clarified that the notice would be given to the parents with enough time to review materials and that the bill creates a more deliberate and direct instruction to notify the parents of the curriculum than previous law.
Senator Charles S. Trump IV, R-Morgan, stated his support for the bill.
“This bill ensures that parents are given an opportunity not currently specified by current law,” he said. “This allows parents to make informed decisions…I think it is a reasonable bill.”
House bills 4022, 4077 and 4729 were all advanced to the full Senate with recommendation for passage.
