This bill amends West Virginia Code 18-2-43 to enhance the Department of Education's responsibilities regarding school disciplinary actions. It mandates the Department to analyze statewide data on disciplinary actions and develop a program aimed at reducing these actions, with a focus on various subgroups such as race, gender, and disability. County boards of education are required to implement this program to improve disciplinary outcomes. Additionally, the Department must prepare a report on the findings of this data and the effectiveness of the programs, which will be presented to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability every two years.

New provisions in the bill require the Department of Education to provide an annual report on school discipline to the Legislative Oversight Commission, detailing progress on the statewide discipline plan. It also mandates periodic updates during legislative interim meetings and the inclusion of school discipline data on the Department's dashboard for public access. These changes aim to ensure greater transparency and accountability in addressing disciplinary issues within West Virginia schools.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-43