Chapter 18, Chapter 18

The state board shall hold at least six meetings in every year at such times and places as it may prescribe. It may meet at such other times as may be necessary, such meetings to be held upon its own resolution or at the call of the president of the state board. The members of th…

The state Board of Education shall promote the implementation and operation of community education programs throughout the state, and shall, by rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, provide for the government and super…

(a) This section shall be known as "Todd's Law". (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the state board shall provide for the awarding of a high school diploma to a deceased student, at the request of the parent, guardian or custodian, if the student: (1)…

(a) The Legislature hereby finds that hazing has become a problem in a limited number of public school-sponsored student organizations and that legal liability has already resulted from some of those activities. It is the intent of this section that problems with hazing in public…

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the state board shall provide for the awarding of a high school diploma to any surviving veteran of World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam Conflict, who: (1) Left school prior to graduation and served in the Ar…

(a) Legislative findings.-- (1) The report and recommendations of Imagine West Virginia on Transforming School Leadership in West Virginia are clearly on point that school leadership and the essential role of the principal in achieving a high performing school are well documented…

(a) The purpose of this section is to provide honors and advanced placement programs to meet the needs of students who have the potential and desire to complete curriculum more demanding than that offered in the regular classroom for their current grade level. Honors programs are…

Gifted students in grades nine through twelve may be served in honors and advanced placement programs as described in section three of this article, pursuant to the student's individualized education program and set forth in the student's four year education plan. Prior to the en…

(a) Legislative findings. -– The Legislature makes the following findings: (1) Children entering early childhood education programs have significant differences in their cognitive development, mastery of the early basic skills and readiness for instruction in a formal setting; (2…

A school employee, student or volunteer is individually immune from a cause of action for damages arising from reporting said incident, if that person: (1) In good faith promptly reports an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying; (2) Makes the report to the appropriate …

The State Board may expend the area vocational education program funds for salaries; teachers' retirement contributions and necessary traveling expenses of teachers and other necessary employees, including, but not limited to, vocational guidance counselors; for purchase, rental,…

The extent of additional information received by the state board from the general public and the affected citizenry, with respect to the impact of the proposed educational reform, may be cause for the state board to change, alter, amend, implement or rescind the proposed educatio…

At its first regular meeting in every year the state board shall elect one of its members as president, who may serve an unlimited number of terms, but no more than two consecutive terms, and one as vice president of the board. The state superintendent shall be the chief executiv…

(a) For the purpose of providing information to the parents of public school children and the general public on the quality of education in the public schools which is uniform and comparable between schools within and among the various school districts, the state board shall prov…

Each county board of education in this state is hereby authorized, but not obligated, to coordinate a community education program within its county.

(a) On or before November 1, 2018, the state board shall promulgate a rule in accordance with §29A-3B-1 et seq. of this code to ensure the coordination, development and evaluation of high-quality professional development programs. The rule shall include, but is not limited to, th…

The State Board of Education shall report no later than September 1, 2007, to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability on the board's progress regarding the adoption and dissemination of the guidelines pursuant to section two of this artic…

(a)(1) Legislative findings. — The Legislature recognizes that the state of West Virginia has one of the highest rates of suicide in the nation, and that suicide serves as one of the leading causes of death in our state. (2) The Legislature further finds that nationwide, suicide …

(a) This section shall be known and cited as “Meghan’s Law”. (b) Training of public school employees and volunteers – The state board shall promulgate, by September 1, 2022, a legislative rule pursuant to §29A-3B-1 et seq. of this code, and if necessary may promulgate an emergenc…

Commencing one year from the date of reenactment of this section in the 2023 regular session of the Legislature, a public school that serves students in grades 6 to 12, inclusive, and that issues student identification cards shall have printed on either side of the student identi…

(a) Education of children in grades K-12 — Beginning July 1, 2019, children in grades K-12 shall receive body age-appropriate safety information at least once per academic school year, with a preference for four times per academic year. To facilitate this process and develop reso…

(a) The State Board of Education, the Council for Community and Technical College Education, and the Department of Commerce shall coordinate efforts for the collection and dissemination of information on the career and technical cluster and major programs of study established for…

(a) The Department of Education shall analyze statewide data collected on school disciplinary action and, based on the findings of this data, develop a statewide program intended to address the number of disciplinary actions taken by school personnel and county school boards agai…

(a) The state board shall, in collaboration with law-enforcement agencies, criminal justice agencies, and other nongovernmental organizations with experience in child online safety issues and human trafficking prevention, develop a Safety While Accessing Technology (SWAT) educati…

(a) As used in this section, "patriotic society" means any youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code. (b) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, the principal of each public school in the state shall allow representatives of a patriotic society the opportunity t…

(a) The Joint Committee on Government and Finance, in conjunction with the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability ("LOCEA") may, at reasonable and prudent intervals, cause the Legislative Auditor to conduct performance audits of the West Virginia Department …

(a) Purpose. – Personal electronic devices contribute to a negative classroom environment with increased concerns relating to distractions, academic misconduct, bullying and/or harassment and other inappropriate behaviors. Concerns regarding the mental health of students with unf…

(a) Legislative intent. — The popularity of air rifle and rimfire rifle teams are expanding in the state and across the country. Current code is unclear as to the legality of these rifles to be permitted on school grounds. For that reason, definitions are needed, and enactment sh…

Title to any property, equipment, tools, furniture or instructional materials purchased prior to the effective date of this section out of the fund provided for area vocational education program funds previously established and existing immediately prior to the effective date of …

(a) There is created an account within the state board titled the Strategic Staff Development Fund. The allocation of balances which accrue in the General School Fund shall be transferred to the Strategic Staff Development Fund each year when the balances become available. Any re…

(a) Legislative findings, purpose, and intent. — The Legislature makes the following findings with respect to the process for improving education and its purpose and intent in the enactment of this section: (1) The process for improving education includes four primary elements, t…

(a) Subject to and in conformity with the Constitution and laws of this state, the State Board of Education shall exercise general supervision of the public schools of the state, and shall promulgate rules in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-…

(a) Schools and county boards are encouraged, but not required, to form bullying prevention task forces, programs and other initiatives involving school staff, students, teachers, administrators, volunteers, parents, law enforcement and community members. (b) To the extent state …

The State Board of Education shall file a copy of any rule that it proposes to promulgate, adopt, amend or repeal under the authority of the Constitution or of this code with the Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability pursuant to article three-b, chapter twe…

(a) The Legislature previously granted authority to the state board to intervene in the operation of a county school system in section five, article two-e of this chapter. Part of the authority given is the authority of the state board to declare that the office of the county sup…

(a) The state board shall: (1) Become a Medicaid provider and seek out Medicaid-eligible students for the purpose of providing Medicaid and related services to students eligible under the Medicaid program; and (2) Maximize federal reimbursement for all services available under th…

(a) No pupil shall be admitted for the first time to any public school in this state unless the person enrolling the pupil presents a copy of the pupil's original birth record certified by the state registrar of vital statistics confirming the pupil's identity, age, and state fil…

(a) The high quality standards for transportation adopted by the state board pursuant to section five of this article shall include standards for the recommended duration of the one-way school bus transportation time for students to and from school under normal weather and operat…

(a) It is the duty of the state board to consult with the duly selected representatives of public higher education appointed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and to make full use of their expertise when developing assessment instruments to be administered in the public …

(a) Restrictions on use of student social security numbers. -- No public or private elementary or secondary school or college or university shall display any student's social security number to identify students for posting or public listing of grades, on class rosters or other l…

(a) Title. -- This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Account-ability Act.” (b) Definitions. -- As used in this section, the following words have the meanings ascribed to them unless the context clearly implies a different…

(a) The state board shall promulgate rules for the accreditation, classification, and standardization of all schools in the state, except institutions of higher education, and shall determine the minimum standards for granting diplomas, advanced certifications, and certificates o…

It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly and intentionally to falsely report any information required under this article. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in the county jail f…

Except as provided in section four of this article, nothing in this article prohibits a victim from seeking redress under any other provision of civil or criminal law.

(a) In order to generate funding for necessary programs and supplies, county boards may permit the sale of healthy beverages and soft drinks in county schools except during breakfast and lunch periods as follows: (1) During a school day, soft drinks may not be sold in areas acces…

(a) The Legislature makes the following findings related to the General Educational Development (GED) examination: (1) The GED examination is an instrument for success that can keep a student from dropping out of school and can transform the future for both school age and adult i…

The State Board may pay for the transportation of any certified unemployed person participating in any area vocational educational program during the period of time that he or she is engaged in the training program at any of the instructional centers.

The state Board of Education shall prescribe minimum standards in the courses of study to be offered in elementary schools, high schools, vocational schools and in all other kinds, grades and classes of schools or departments thereof, which may now or hereafter be maintained in t…

(a) The Legislature finds that: (1) The knowledge and skills children need to succeed are changing dramatically and that West Virginia students must develop proficiency in the subject matter content, technology tools and learning skills to succeed and prosper in life, in school a…

(a) The Legislature finds that obesity is a problem of epidemic proportions in this state. There is increasing evidence that all segments of the population, beginning with children, are becoming more sedentary, more overweight and more likely to develop health risks and diseases …