This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to allow waivers of experience requirements for professional education personnel under certain conditions. It specifies that classroom teachers with zero to three years of experience can be considered for professional positions only if no other qualified candidates have applied. Furthermore, when filling vacancies for principal or classroom teaching roles, the county board has the authority to determine the weight of each qualification criterion, with provisions for equal weighting of certain criteria for permanently employed instructional personnel. The bill also emphasizes the importance of recommendations from principals and faculty senates in the hiring and promotion process, while addressing seniority determination and the reassignment of teachers without the need for posting positions under specific circumstances.

Additionally, the bill ensures that personnel in public charter schools accrue seniority in the same manner as their counterparts in noncharter public schools, promoting equitable treatment for charter school employees. The overall aim of the bill is to enhance flexibility in hiring practices while maintaining a focus on qualifications and recommendations from educational leaders, thereby potentially broadening the pool of candidates for essential educational roles.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18A-4-7a