W.Va. plan for dropouts: Raise eligible age to 17 AP POSTED: February 10, 2010   CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Lowering West Virginia's high school dropout rate could be as simple as raising the age at which students can leave school from 16 to 17, lawmakers heard Tuesday. Opponents countered that the bill headed for the Senate floor could burden schools with troublemaking students who would patently rather be somewhere else. "The common saying in high schools is that these 16-year-olds who... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Proposal_to_increase_dropout_age_to_17,157.aspx Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:00:00 GMT 2010-02-10T10:00:00 Ex-Winfield coach's lawsuit transferred to Kanawha County By Veronica Nett Staff writer CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Putnam County judge has transferred a lawsuit that challenges state hiring practices of school sports coaches to Kanawha County. Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers approved a motion Thursday from the West Virginia Board of Education, the Putnam County school board, the state chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and the West Virginia Education Association. They asked to transfer the... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Coaches_lawsuit_transferred_to_Kanawha_County,146.aspx Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT 2010-01-29T10:00:00 W.Va. counties say school bill doesn't help enough TOM BREEN Associated Press Writer CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The widespread agreement over Gov. Joe Manchin's bid to overhaul the school calendar may not last much longer. County school boards aren't sure about the legislation that swiftly passed both chambers of the Legislature. Last year, a similar measure died in the House of Delegates and met with stiff opposition from unions representing teachers and other school employees. Richard Olcott,... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Counties_say_school_bill_not_enough_help,145.aspx Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:00:00 GMT 2010-01-29T09:00:00 Thursday January 28, 2010 A small adjustment may bring big changes Allowing flexibility in scheduling may give kids 180 days of school THE state requires 180 days of instruction each year from the 55 county schools system. Many seldom deliver.  For example, in the 2007-2008 school year, only Boone, Kanawha, Lincoln and Putnam counties met the 180-day requirement. The battle over why this is allowed has been going on for decades. But lawmakers and Gov. Joe Manchin may have come up with a solution.... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Calendar_adjustment_may_bring_big_changes,144.aspx Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 GMT 2010-01-28T11:00:00 Hoppy's Commentary On School Calendar Talkline Host Hoppy Kercheval   West Virginia lawmakers have gotten off to a good start in the 2010 session by addressing the school calendar issue. Two weeks into the session lawmakers have already passed a bill wiping out the arbitrary start and end dates for the public school year.  The House passed the bill 92-1 without amendment, and then Tuesday the Senate waived the rule requiring a bill to be read on three... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Hoppys_calendar_commentary,143.aspx Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:00:00 GMT 2010-01-27T11:00:00 Senate sends calendar bill to governor West Virginia's Senate passed Gov. Joe Manchin's school calendar proposal on Tuesday, giving the governor an early victory in the unfolding regular session. Senators agreed to suspend their rules to allow an early vote, then unanimously approved the measure that the House had passed Monday unchanged. The 60-day session began Jan. 13. The bill would require county school systems to plan for icy conditions and emergencies while setting their annual calendars. It... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Senate_sends_calendar_bill_to_governor,141.aspx Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT 2010-01-27T10:00:00 January 26, 2010 Senate sends school calendar changes to Manchin By Phil Kabler CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Legislation to revamp school calendars didn't waste any time gathering dust on the Senate calendar Tuesday. Immediately upon receiving the bill from the House of Delegates, the Senate voted to suspend constitutional rules, and passed the bill (HB4040) without amendment on a 34-0 vote. It goes to the governor, becoming the first bill this session to complete the legislative process, on the 14th day of... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Manchin_gets_calendar_bill,142.aspx Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT 2010-01-27T10:00:00 Senate sends school calendar bill to governor By The Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia's Senate has passed Gov. Joe Manchin's school calendar proposal, giving the governor an early victory in the unfolding regular session. Senators agreed to suspend their rules Tuesday to allow an early vote. They then unanimously approved the measure that the House had passed without amendment on Monday. The bill would require county school systems to plan for icy conditions and emergencies while... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Senate_sends_calendar_bill_to_governor,140.aspx Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:15:00 GMT 2010-01-26T13:15:00 Dropouts State’s graduation rate too low The Register-Herald “For every 100 ninth graders in school today, statistics tell us only 16 will graduate from college,” Gov. Joe Manchin mentioned in his state of the state address. That is a problem, but a far greater one is happening even before students reach college age: Our state’s high school dropout rate is at least 22 percent. So what? For starters, those former students will earn, on average, about $1 million less during a lifetime than a... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Dropouts,139.aspx Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:00 GMT 2010-01-26T11:00:00 Tuesday January 26, 2010 House OKs school calendar bill Legislation would repeal mandated start and end dates by Ry Rivard Daily Mail Capitol Reporter CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin's legislation to ensure public school students receive 180 days of instruction each year sailed through the House of Delegates on Monday, but it apparently is no ironclad guarantee.   The governor called the plan a "good start" that shows West Virginia intends to have kids in school and learning for 180 days... http://wvea.org/news/articles/House_OKs_calendar_bill,137.aspx Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT 2010-01-26T10:00:00 House passes Manchin's school calendar bill January 26, 2010 @ 12:00 AM LAWRENCE MESSINA The Associated Press CHARLESTON -- Gov. Joe Manchin's proposed changes to the public school calendar are sailing through the West Virginia Legislature, in sharp contrast to last year's effort that fell to House-Senate differences and opposition from teachers' groups. The improved fortunes this time come as lawmakers say they want to focus more on the state's larger education picture. Groups representing teachers... http://wvea.org/news/articles/House_passes_calendar_bill,138.aspx Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT 2010-01-26T10:00:00 House backs school calendar change January 24, 2010 @ 11:40 PM BILL ROSENBERGER The Herald-Dispatch HUNTINGTON -- Every county in West Virginia has had to call off school because of weather this school year, and many also have called numerous two-hour delays and some early dismissals. That's the evidence that Gov. Joe Manchin and some legislators are pointing to in an effort once again to try to pass a school calendar reform bill. Under present law, school can begin no earlier than Aug. 26 and end... http://wvea.org/news/articles/House_backs_calendar_changes,135.aspx Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT 2010-01-25T14:00:00 Monday January 25, 2010 State employee raises possible for 2011 Officials say if plan to reduce retiree costs is successful, state would be in better position to award salary hikes by Ry Rivard Daily Mail Capitol Reporter CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- If the state can afford them, Gov. Joe Manchin has plans to give state employees pay raises for four straight years starting in 2011. While there are apparently no across-the-board raises on the table for the budget year that starts July 1, the governor's... http://wvea.org/news/articles/State_employee_raises_possible_in_2011,136.aspx Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:15:00 GMT 2010-01-25T13:15:00 January 24, 2010 W.Va. lawmakers nearing OPEB strategy LAWRENCE MESSINA Associated Press Writer CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia lawmakers hope to start as early as midweek on proposals meant to help the state gradually erase a massive funding shortfall that threatens future retiree benefits. Senate and House leaders met late last week to discuss an array of 17 possible options for tackling the estimated $7.8 billion liability from other post-employment benefit or OPEB costs. These costs... http://wvea.org/news/articles/WV_lawmakers_nearing_OPEB_strategy,134.aspx Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT 2010-01-25T13:00:00 All W.Va. School Systems To Provide Pre-K By 2012 Posted: 11:58 am EST January 21, 2010Updated: 7:45 pm EST January 21, 2010 By 2012, all school systems in West Virginia will be required to provide pre-kindergarten classes.   The requirement means every school system must have a space for each 4-year-old child to attend pre-K and space for any 3-year-old special-needs child. The children would not be required to attend; the decision would be up to their caregivers.   Thursday, state education... http://wvea.org/news/articles/2012_prek_date_for_all_schools_in_state,133.aspx Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 GMT 2010-01-22T11:00:00 School calendar bill advancing Legislation would give greater flexibility to meet 180-day standard by Zack Harold, Daily Mail staff CHARLESTON, W.Va.--A bill seeking to give local school officials greater flexibility in designing their yearly school calendars and meeting a state-required 180 days in the classroom has made it out of the educator-dominated House Education Committee. But one teacher union official says she has doubts about the legislation's effectiveness. Just a week into the session,... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Calendar_bill_advancing,131.aspx Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT 2010-01-20T10:00:00 W.Va. lawmakers considering longterm retiree cost solution West Virginia lawmakers have identified 17 wide-ranging options for tackling the state's estimated $7.8 billion funding shortfall that stems from public retiree costs. By The Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia lawmakers have identified 17 wide-ranging options for tackling the state's estimated $7.8 billion funding shortfall that stems from public retiree costs. A special Senate committee shared the suggested ways for... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Legislators_considering_longterm_solution_to_OPEB,132.aspx Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT 2010-01-20T10:00:00 Two Boone teachers will pilot online textbook program by Zack Harold Daily Mail staff CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Starting next semester, Scott High School students taking Joey Wiseman and Cindy Allred's social studies classes will have one less book to carry. But that doesn't mean the workload will be any lighter. The West Virginia Department of Education's Office of Instruction chose Wiseman, a civics and AP Government teacher, and Allred, a U.S. history teacher, to pilot an online textbook program. To... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Teachers_pilot_online_textbook_program,130.aspx Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:00:00 GMT 2010-01-18T09:00:00 Competing In Race To Top MetroNews Applications for the federal stimulus money that's available through the 'Race To the Top' Fund are due to the U.S. Department of Education by Tuesday.  West Virginia's application will be among those submitted.  It's a request for more than $84 million over four years for programs to improve education quality and results. "I think we have a shot," state Schools Superintendent Doctor Steve Paine says of West Virginia's... http://wvea.org/news/articles/WV_competing_in_Race_to_the_Top,129.aspx Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:00:00 GMT 2010-01-18T09:00:00 W.Va. gov revisits school calendar fight LAWRENCE MESSINA Associated Press Writer CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Gov. Joe Manchin has not given up his quest to open up West Virginia's public school calendar, but faces the same impasse with teachers' groups that helped doom last year's attempt. Manchin has included the topic in his latest legislative agenda. The House and Senate versions of his bill, introduced Friday, propose allowing county school boards to decide when the school year should begin and end... http://wvea.org/news/articles/Governor_revisits_school_calendar_fight,128.aspx Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT 2010-01-16T10:00:00 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:43:42 GMT http://wvea.org/shared/handlers/newsrss.ashx?cid=10 10 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:43:42 GMT