The proposed bill aims to establish the Academic Quality in Public Education Act in West Virginia, introducing new standards for public schools that align with those required for private and religious schools. It includes provisions for a minimum instructional term of 180 days, maintenance of attendance and immunization records, compliance with health and safety regulations, and the establishment of crisis response plans. Additionally, the bill mandates that public schools administer a nationally normed standardized achievement test annually, with results made available to parents and guardians.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if a school's composite test results fall below the fortieth percentile for two consecutive years, the school will no longer meet the compulsory attendance requirement, and students will be considered delinquent. This legislation seeks to enhance the quality of public education by ensuring that public schools adhere to rigorous academic standards and accountability measures similar to those of private educational institutions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2L-1, 18-2L-2, 18-2L-3