The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to enhance the statewide student growth assessment program by establishing a comprehensive framework for assessing student performance in reading and mathematics for grades three through eight. It mandates the inclusion of benchmark assessments within the first 30 days of the school year, at mid-year, and a summative assessment at the end of the school year. Additionally, the bill removes obsolete language from existing law to streamline the assessment process and clarify requirements. The state board is tasked with developing and implementing these assessments, ensuring alignment with academic standards, and providing optional testing instruments for schools, while emphasizing accountability measures and the use of performance data to improve educational outcomes.

Moreover, the bill allows the state board to intervene in the operation of a county school system under specific circumstances, such as failure to meet statutory obligations or a history of prior interventions. It outlines a process for improving education through the development of electronic strategic improvement plans and mandates that county boards establish goals and action plans to enhance governance and leadership capacity during interventions. The state superintendent will oversee this process, with a focus on returning control to the county board within five years. If the county board is not ready after this period, public hearings will be held to discuss continued intervention, and support for governance education will be provided for up to three years post-intervention, with provisions for re-intervention if necessary.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2E-5
Committee Substitute: 18-2E-5
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 18-2E-5
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 18-2E-5