Chapter 18, Chapter 18

(a) In order for the schools to become healthy learning environments and to provide a strong defense against drug use and violence, the State Board of Education shall prescribe programs within the existing health and physical education program which teach resistance and life skil…

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that persons with an understanding of personal finance are better prepared to manage their money and that providing a personal finance program in secondary schools in West Virginia will prepare students to handle their finances. (b) To provi…

(a) The Legislature finds that, in addition to specialized skills relating to specific professions and trades, students will be better prepared to enter the workforce and succeed in their chosen fields of employment or education by having the opportunity to participate in trainin…

(a) The purpose of this section is to complement the delivery of programs in workforce preparation set forth in §18-2-7d of this code by providing a framework for schools, school systems, and communities to: (1) Engage their local stakeholders in developing a shared vision of the…

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that: (1) Programs outside of the traditional classroom have educational value; (2) Many entities, including, but not limited to, nonprofit organizations, afterschool programs, businesses, and trade associations may have an interest in offer…

(a) In addition to any other registered apprenticeship programs, there is herein created the "Youth Apprenticeship Program," which shall allow for any public, private, or home school student in the eleventh or twelfth grade, or are 16 years or older, the opportunity to enroll in …

(a) Findings and intent. -- The Legislature finds that the Governor, the Legislature, the state board and the people of West Virginia established goals for education through an education summit and series of town meetings in the summer of the year 1990, and that these goals were …

The director of vocational education may appoint a consulting committee for each area designated, composed of members representing business, labor, management, school administrators and lay groups. The consulting committee shall advise the head of the local area or training cente…

The state Board of Education shall, with the advice of the state Superintendent of Schools, prescribe a course of study in fire prevention for use in the public, private and parochial schools of this state, dealing with the protection of lives and property against loss or damage …

(a) The Legislature finds that: (1) Firearms and hunting are important parts of West Virginia’s history, culture, and economy; (2) Unfortunately, the use of firearms while hunting or at any other time can be dangerous when the firearms are not handled in a careful and safe manner…

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (i) and (j), section eight of this article, information on student attainment of special skills, honors, advanced education, exceptional performance and other outstanding accomplishments shall be included on the certificate of profici…

(a) There is hereby created the “West Virginia Remembers Program” whereby children in the public schools may learn about military service, patriotism and courage in the defense of our country from veterans who volunteer to share their experiences in the educational setting. Parti…

(a) The Legislature finds that vocational agriculture curriculum plays a vital role in the development of science education for those students enrolled in the program. The Legislature further finds that as a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Robert C. Beach w…

(a) The Legislature finds that many school systems are improving the quality of education for their students through implementation of the goals and policies set forth in this article. The Legislature finds that local school systems have had and should continue to have substantia…

(a) Findings. -- The Legislature makes the following findings: (1) Serving in the armed services in defense of the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness enjoyed in our democratic society involves a tremendous sacrifice on the behalf of those who serve, often at the cost of their…

(a) There is hereby created the "West Virginia Remembers Program." The objective of the West Virginia Remembers Program is to provide a forum wherein children in the public schools may learn about military service, patriotism and courage in the defense of our country from veteran…

(a) Findings and intent. — The Legislature finds that through agricultural education students are provided opportunities for leadership development, personal growth, and career success in the science, business, and technology of agriculture. Quality agricultural education instruc…

(a) Findings: -- The Legislature finds that: (1) West Virginia schools have improved and expanded Internet access which enables schools to offer courses through the Internet and other new and developing technologies; (2) Current technology is available to provide students with mo…

Any member of the state board, any county superintendent, any member of a county board or any other person who shall receive, solicit, or accept any gift, present, or thing of value to influence that individual in the vote for the adoption of instructional resources, print or ele…

(a) (1) In all public, private, parochial, and denominational schools located within this state there shall be given prior to the completion of the eighth grade at least one year of instruction in the history of the State of West Virginia. The schools shall require regular course…

(a) County boards of education may offer to students in grade nine or above: (1) An elective social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible; (2) An elective social studies course on the New Testament of the Bible; or (3) An elective social studies cour…

(a) As used in this section: (1) "Ethnic group" means a category of population that is set apart and bound together by common ties of race, language, nationality, or culture; (2) "Race" means any one of the groups that humans are often divided into based on physical traits regard…

There shall be appointed by the state board a State Superintendent of Schools who serves at the will and pleasure of the state board. He or she shall be a person of good moral character, shall be able to perform the duties listed in this article and possess such other educational…

The State Superintendent of Schools shall exercise such other powers and discharge such other duties as are herein assigned to him or as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Legislature and by the state Board of Education.

The state superintendent shall classify all elementary and secondary schools on the basis of standards, rules and regulations established by the state board after publishing such standards, rules and regulations, and forwarding them to the district boards of education, county sup…

The state superintendent shall establish a Special Community Development School Pilot Program to be implemented in a neighborhood of at least five public schools, which shall include at least one elementary and middle school, for the duration of five years. The neighborhood of pu…

(a) The Legislature finds that: (1) Behavior problems of special education students can be better addressed by personnel who specialize in addressing student behavior issues; (2) With the advent of the opioid crisis in recent years in West Virginia, behavior problems in the state…

The State Superintendent of Schools shall provide a seal for his office. He shall sign all requisitions on the Auditor for the payment of money out of the state Treasury for school purposes, except as otherwise provided by law.

(a) The State Superintendent of Schools shall have general supervision of the free schools of the state, and shall be the chief executive officer of the state Board of Education. The State Superintendent of Schools shall be charged with the general supervision of all county super…

The State Superintendent of Schools shall cause to be instituted such proceedings or processes as may be necessary properly to enforce and give effect to any provision or provisions of this chapter and to the provisions of any other general or special laws pertaining to the schoo…

The State Superintendent of Schools shall have the authority to call conferences of the county, district, and city superintendents of schools of the state, or of any group or groups of such superintendents, for the purpose of considering with them any matters relating to the cond…

At the request in writing of any citizen, teacher, school official, county or state officer, the state Superintendent of Schools shall give his interpretation of the meaning of any part of the school law or of the rules of the state Board of Education.

From time to time, as may be necessary, the state Superintendent of Schools shall cause to be prepared and published, for distribution to the proper persons to receive them, manuals of the courses of study prescribed by the state Board of Education, as provided by section seven, …

On or before November 1, preceding each regular session of the Legislature, the state Superintendent of Schools shall make and transmit a report to the Governor, to be transmitted by him to the Legislature. Such report shall contain summaries of the annual reports of the county s…

For carrying into effect the provisions of this chapter, the state Superintendent of Schools shall maintain a Department of Education at his office at the state Capitol, and he shall have authority to employ assistants and such other employees as may be necessary.

Whenever any county board shall fail to comply with an order of the state Fire Marshal for correction of fire hazards in any public school building, the state superintendent shall close the building, or the unsafe part thereof, until the board complies with such order. The state …

(a) The county superintendent shall be appointed by the board upon a majority vote of the members thereof to serve for a term of not less than one, nor more than four years. At the expiration of the term or terms for which he or she shall have been appointed, each county superint…

The county superintendent shall: (1) Act as the chief executive officer of the county board as may be delineated in his or her contract or other written agreement with the county board, and, under the direction of the state board, execute all its education policies; (2) Nominate …

The county superintendent shall: (1) Visit the schools as often as practicable; observe and make suggestions concerning the instruction and classroom management of the schools and their sanitary conditions; (2) Report to the county board cases of incompetence, neglect of duty, im…

(a) A county superintendent shall hold a professional administrative certificate endorsed for superintendent, or a first class permit endorsed for superintendent, subject to the following: (1) A superintendent who holds a first class permit may be appointed for one year only, and…

The board may remove the superintendent from office for official misconduct, insubordination, incompetence, neglect of duty, or immorality. The charges shall be stated in writing, and the superintendent shall be given an opportunity to be heard by the board upon not less than ten…

On or before June 1 of the year in which the superintendent is appointed, the board shall fix the annual salary of the superintendent for the period of appointment for the term beginning on the following July 1. The board shall pay the salary from the general current expense fund…

The board shall pay the compensation of the superintendent monthly upon orders drawn in the same manner as other bills of the district.

(a) At least annually, the county board shall evaluate the performance of the county superintendent. The evaluation process to be used shall be one authorized by the state board. The West Virginia school board association shall maintain a catalog of evaluation instruments which c…

The board shall provide a suitable office within the county for use by the superintendent and the members of the board. The board shall supply the office with janitorial service and with the necessary equipment and supplies.

The superintendent, with the consent of the board, may appoint clerical assistants necessary for efficient operation of his office. Their salaries shall be paid monthly by the board from the maintenance fund.

The board may reimburse the superintendent from the current expense fund for all reasonable and necessary travel expenses actually incurred in the performance of his official duties. But no allowance shall be made except upon sworn itemized statements.

The purposes of this article are as follows: (1) To facilitate and encourage teacher collaboration by empowering schools to create alternative decision-making processes that address school and classroom improvement. The intent is to authorize reorganization or consolidation of ce…

The intent of this article is to facilitate and encourage the involvement of the school community in the operation of the local schools to improve educational quality. This article is intended to establish processes at each school which provide opportunities for involvement of th…

The purpose of this act is to encourage and incentivize public schools to improve overall student outcomes through the implementation of key innovational priorities for improving education in the following areas: (1) Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); (2) Community…