WVEA seeks to keep you apprised of policies the West Virginia Board of Education has on public comment. Your ability to provide the students in your classroom with the best education possible is impacted by the policies passed by the West Virginia Board of Education. We urge you to read the synopsis of proposed policy "revisions listed below and respond to the WVDE with your comments.
WVBE Policy 5800 - Standards of Professional Practice for WV Superintendents, Principals and Teacher Leaders
Background: In 2008, a Leadership Collaborative was organized to develop a WV Master Plan for improving educational leadership. This Collaborative was made up of representatives of higher education, public education, professional organizations, policy makers and other entities with responsibilities for leadership development and support. This Collaborative worked for 18 months to develop leadership standards for principals, superintendents and teacher leaders and to complete a series of recommendations for improving leadership succession planning, preparation, licensure, induction, evaluation, professional development and conditions of work.
Appropriate WVDE staff will begin addressing the sixteen recommendations of this Collaborative through various work teams and will present the WVBE
with suggested changes in policy and code. Policy 5800 is the first new policy to be generated from the work of the Collaborative. These new standards will require modification of existing WVBE policies including: Policy 5100: Approval of Educational Personnel Preparation Programs; Policy 5500.03: Qualities, Proficiencies, Skills for Principals; Policy 2510: Assuring Quality of Education: Regulations for Education Programs; and Policy 5310: Performance Evaluation of School Personnel. The new policy shall be effective beginning July 1, 2010.
Proposal: The overall purpose of Policy 5800 is to define a coherent and aligned set of leadership standards for superintendents, principals and teacher leaders which represent the research-based qualities associated with high performing schools and school systems. By organizing the leadership roles of teachers, principals and superintendents around the same set of quality standards, greater cohesion and consistency of leadership effort can be leveraged toward the improvement of student achievement.
Impact: This document is written as a foundational policy to inform and guide subsequent policy and program decisions that affect leadership development and support including the recruitment, hiring, preparation, licensure, induction, professional development and evaluation of leaders. The standards and functions described in this policy should impact all state, regional and local efforts in developing, selecting and supporting quality leaders.
Policy 5800 will be out on public comment until the close of the business day on March 26, 2010. A copy of the proposed policy, can be viewed in an Adobe Acrobat PDF format and comments submitted online on WVDE’s Website at http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies.
Policy 2520.35 - 21st Century Science 9-12 Content Standards and Objectives for WV
Background: The current emphasis on the environment has created a request and a need for an elective environmental science course. The objectives for this course were organized and the Performance Descriptors written succinctly to indicate the student level of achievement. The creation of this course is a result of the requests from stakeholders. The individuals involved with the proposed revisions of this policy were from the WVDE Office of Instruction; Office of Assessment/Accountability; Office of Proposals as well as 3 teachers who represented 3 different school districts.
Proposals: Revisions to Policy 2520.35 are being recommended for a new elective: Environmental Science Content Standard and Objectives were written for an elective course. The objectives were clustered to concepts and written succinctly in the Performance Descriptors of SC.EVS.1 and SC.S.EVS.2 to indicate the level of achievement.
Impact: The proposed creation of the Content Standards and Objectives for 21st Century Science 9-12 Standards and Objectives for the elective course Environmental Science will provide:
- Students a rich understanding of the impact man has on the environment and the need to appreciate that symbiotic relationship.
- Teachers with information through Performance Descriptors about the levels of knowledge and skills the students must acquire and
- Parents will have an explanation of their child’s knowledge and conceptual understanding that should be acquired at each level.
Policy 2520.35 will be out on public comment until the close of the business day on March 15, 2010. A copy of the proposed Content Standards and Objectives for creation of the course, Environmental Science, can be viewed in an Adobe Acrobat PDF format and comments submitted online on WVDE’s Website at http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies.
If you have questions regarding any of these policies, contact Anita Maxwell, WVEA Communications and Instructional Issues by phone at 1.800.642.8261 ext. 116 or by email at amaxwell@wvea.org.
The following WV Board of Education (WVBE) policies are listed for your convenience. All WVBE policies are posted on the WVDE's Website at http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies.
Policy 2340 – Statewide Assessment Program
Policy 2419 – Education of Exceptional Students
Policy 2421 – Harassment
Policy 2422.8 -- Medication Administration
Policy 2460 – Use of the Internet by Students and Educators
Policy 2470 – Use of Technology by Students and Educators
Policy 2510 – Assuring Quality Education
Policy 2515 – Uniform Grading
Policy 2520.1-2520.15 – Instructional Goals and Objectives
Policy 4110 – Attendance
Policy 4360 – Collection, Maintenance, Disclosure of Student Data
Policy 4373 – Student Code of Conduct
Policy 5202 – Licensure of Professional/Paraprofessional Personnel
Policy 5310 – Performance Evaluation of School Personnel
Policy 5902 – Employee Code of Conduct
Policy 6202 – Indoor Air Quality