The bill proposes significant changes to the administration of Advanced Career Education (ACE) classes and programs in West Virginia by transferring oversight from county boards of education to community and technical colleges. It introduces a new section, 18B-2B-10, while repealing the existing section 18-5-19b, which relates to adult education. The amendments aim to establish new rules for the accreditation and certification of educational programs, ensuring that students receive proper recognition for their skills and employment readiness. Notably, the bill deletes previous classifications of students in ACE programs as adults in regular secondary programs and inserts provisions allowing educational leaders to designate additional programs that provide valuable workplace credentials.

The transition of ACE program administration is scheduled to occur between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, with specific effective dates determined by mutual agreement between the county board and the community and technical college. The bill outlines responsibilities for both parties during the transfer, including the management of facilities and personnel, while emphasizing the need for continuity of services. It also includes provisions for the transfer of personnel, ensuring they retain their pay rates and benefits, and become at-will employees of the community and technical college. The Chancellor for community and technical college education will develop guidelines for the transfer process, with any disputes to be resolved through mutual agreement between the State Superintendent of Schools and the Chancellor.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-6, 18-2-10, 18-9A-2, 18B-2B-10, 18-5-19b