After many days and hours of debate and deliberation, the Senate passed Senate Bill 451, comprehensive education reform, on Monday by a vote of 18-16. The bill was reported to the House of Delegates.
The 140-page bill introduces major educational reform for West Virginia. The legislation would introduce public charter schools, education savings accounts (ESA), a $250 tax credit for teachers buying supplies, 5 percent pay increase to teachers and service personnel, and a $500 bonus for teachers who miss less than 10 days during an academic year.
Some senators expressed concerns with public charter schools and education savings accounts.
The charter schools could be open in any school district, and is an op-in. Students and their families would have to apply for admission into a charter school, and would be first-come first-serve.
Education savings accounts would be open for 2,500 students who attend public charter schools in the state at any one time. Funds in the account can also roll over year to year. If a student enrolls in public school, then their ESA account would result in immediate suspension.
The Senate also passed 11 other bills, which include:
Senate bills 512 to 520 were also introduced.
The following committees will meet today:
Banking at 3:30 p.m. in 451M
Finance ten minutes after Banking in 451M
Judiciary ten minutes after Banking in 208W
The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Transportation at 10 a.m. in 451M
Health at 1 p.m. in 451M
Education at 2 p.m. in 451M
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