Chris Schulz, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Justice Declares State Of Emergency Over FAFSA Forms

During his regular press briefing Tuesday, Justice said the declaration allows the state to bypass FAFSA requirements for state programs such as the PROMISE scholarship.

Gov. Jim Justice has declared a state of emergency for the state’s higher educational system.

During his regular press briefing Tuesday, Justice said the declaration allows the state to bypass FAFSA requirements for state programs such as the PROMISE scholarship.

“We have to find a way to bypass this FAFSA requirement that will provide eligibility to our high school kids in regards to their scholarships, especially PROMISE and on and on and on,” he said. “We have at this time a 40 percent decline in applications and the reason for that is, our kids don’t know what to do.”

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unlocks both federal and state financial aid for students. The federal government released a shortened FAFSA at the end of last year that was intended to simplify the financial aid process for students, but the rollout of the new form has been plagued with delays and technical issues.

Justice was joined by Higher Education Policy Commission Chancellor Sarah Tucker, who assured West Virginia students they will get the support they deserve.

“To the students and families, I want you to know that we have your back,” she said. “We want you to know that if you qualify for PROMISE and or the higher education grant, you will get that money for this fall regardless of your FAFSA status.”

Tucker warned members of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability at an interim meeting earlier this month that the confusion over the new form was causing delays for the state’s educational programs and would require a creative solution.

“With Governor Justice’s proclamation, students who qualify and apply for the Promise scholarship by September 1 will receive an award of up to $5,500 for the 2024-2025 academic year,” Tucker said. “If a student completed last year’s FAFSA and qualifies for our need based higher education grant, they will receive the award of up to $3,400 for the fall semester.”

Tucker and Justice both implored students and parents to call the commission’s hotline at 1-877-987-7664 and to keep working on completing their FAFSAs.

According to Tucker, students who do not have a FAFSA on file can also qualify for Higher Education grants by presenting their eligibility letter for Department of Human Services programs such as SNAP, Medicaid or WIC to their higher education institution’s financial aid office.

Justice indicated West Virginia is leading the country by declaring a state of emergency to try and resolve FAFSA-related issues.

“We’ve got to still get you through this FAFSA requirement for you to get fed dollars,” he said. “But to get you state dollars, this state of emergency absolutely, we ought to be able to move forward.”

WVU Students, Community Members March In Support Of Palestine

Student protests in support of Palestine have emerged on college campuses across the country in the past few weeks Students at West Virginia University joined their voices to the movement.

Student protests in support of Palestine have emerged on college campuses across the country in the past few weeks Students at West Virginia University added their voices to the movement.

Protesters congregated in front of the Mountainlair, WVU’s student union Sunday evening. The group of about 75 people was made up of students as well as community members, many of whom had their young children in tow.

Gabe Jones is a senior at the university, and he hoped the demonstration shows WVU their determination.

“I would hope that just us being here helps to show WVU how many people here support a free Palestine, and how many people would support us divesting from supporting Israel,” he said.

Divestment from Israeli interests has been a consistent demand at protests on college campuses since encampments were established at Columbia University April 17.

Jones and others at Sunday’s action mentioned the sale of Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Sabra hummus as potential targets of divestment for the university.

“There are active ties here between WVU and both universities and companies that do support the current occupation,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of ways that the university is actively supporting and funding, in part this genocide and everyone here supports the idea that that should actively stop.”

South Africa accused Israel of committing a genocide in the United Nations International Court of Justice, claims which are currently being adjudicated.

Nada Mikky is the secretary of the Muslim Student Association at WVU and helped the group organize the protest. She said the demonstrators hope to show solidarity with Palestinians, as well as with students on other campuses. Locally, Mikky says the action hopes to push three goals on campus.

“First is for WVU to divest from any sending money to Israel, or anything that is supporting genocide,” she said. “Second is for the university to hopefully call for a ceasefire. And third is for them to at least be aware of what’s happening and hear our voices.”

Mikky said the turnout was a surprise given the short notice, as well as WVU entering its finals week. She also noted broad-based support from other religious groups.

“We did not expect this turnout, and gladly people, not even only from the MSA but also the Christian community, the Jewish community,” she said. “People that are from other communities, I think from the Jewish, they brought snacks and water for the protesters.”

Omar Ibraheem, president of the Muslim Student Association at WVU, said it is frustrating to know Israeli citizens can go to college for free.

“A lot of universities are actually investing in a foreign country, in a foreign military, and that money could be used to aid students,” he said. “Most students are in debt and all people in Israel get access to free education and free health care, whereas Americans don’t even have that.”

Ibraheem also expressed concern about First Amendment violations stemming from protests on other campuses.

“We’re watching students across campuses getting their First Amendment rights, something that is so embedded in America, we’re watching that getting stripped away,” he said. “Students are being arrested, suspended for their access of free speech on designated areas for free speech and protests.”

The group marched down to the Monongalia County Courthouse in downtown Morgantown and back to campus peacefully. A presence from the Morgantown Police Department served primarily to block intersections and ensure safe crossings for the march.

Students vow to take more action in the coming days.

Teachers Recognized For Completing, Renewing Advanced Certification

The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) recognized 134 West Virginia educators Wednesday for completing or renewing their National Board Certification (NBC) at the West Virginia Culture Center.

The NBC is a voluntary, advanced teaching credential received by completing an intense and rigorous process that can take three years to complete and is recognized across the country as an achievement beyond the necessary state licensure.

Forty-six teachers earned their first National Board Certification, and 88 teachers across West Virginia maintained their certification in the class of 2023.

“National Board Certified Teachers exemplify the ideas of continuous learning and development in the profession. Their dedication to education and their students provides credence to academic achievement,” said state Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “Our NBCTs are committed to excellence and cultivating a foundation for a successful future.”

Amidst a continued national struggle to hire and maintain certified educators, West Virginia has a total of 1,218 Nationally Board Certified Teachers and ranks 14th in the country for the percentage of NBCTs.

According to WVDE’s own reporting, close to 1500 educators were teaching with only provisional credentials during the 2022-2023 school year.

Wayne Co. High School Receives National Recognition For College Readiness

Spring Valley High School in Wayne County has been named a 2023 School of Excellence by ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning

Spring Valley High School in Wayne County has been named a 2023 School of Excellence by ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning’s American College Application Campaign (ACAC).

ACAC is a national effort to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income families pursuing a college degree or other higher education credential.

Spring Valley is one of 27 schools from across the country to be recognized for its College Application and Exploration Week and its work with West Virginia GEAR UP to remove many of the common obstacles in applying to college.

Debra Asbury, school counselor and GEARUP coordinator at Spring Valley, said that means providing every chance for students to learn about different careers.

“It’s our job…to provide them with opportunities to meet with admissions counselors, FAFSA coordinator, anything that’s getting them ready for post secondary, whether that is for a trade school, beauty school, or whether that’s to go to Harvard,” she said.

The application process can be confusing and daunting, and Asbury said exposing students to opportunities after graduation and helping them fill out forms is key to their future success.

“They need to break the cycle for some of these kids because they’re from areas where their parents didn’t graduate or they didn’t go on to school, and they’ve got to know their goals are achievable,” she said.

Lindsay Ellis is also a school counselor and GEARUP coordinator at Spring Valley. She said the recognition was an honor, especially after doing the same work for several years.

“These are things that we’ve always done as school counselors, but it really means a lot to get recognized for that,” she said. “I feel that all school counselors, especially the ones that we come in contact with, everybody is deserving.“

Asbury and Ellis believe that Spring Valley stood out in part because of a FAFSA completion rate of 62.5 percent, the highest in recent school history, as well as a strong social media presence.

“Show the community, show parents what we’re doing,” Ellis said. “Keep everybody in the loop, which is very important.”

Both counselors recognize the importance of the school-wide investment, from administrators to students, that was needed to receive the ACAC’s attention.

Lawsuit Claims Morgantown Panhandling Ordinance Unconstitutional

A lawsuit filed in federal court Monday argues Morgantown’s ordinance against panhandling is unconstitutional.

Legal nonprofit Mountain State Justice filed the suit in the Northern District of West Virginia on behalf of Anthony Rowand, who has been cited by police at least seven times in the past year for violating a city ordinance against soliciting donations from people traveling in vehicles.

Lesley Nash, staff attorney for Mountain State Justice, said they are arguing the city’s ordinance violates Rowand’s First Amendment rights.

“There have been numerous cases from just about every Circuit Court of Appeals in the country, as well as the Supreme Court, that have held that it is unconstitutional to put content-based restrictions on speech,” she said. “Because this ordinance in Morgantown specifically targets speech that solicits charity, that is a content-based restriction on speech, and we believe it is facially unconstitutional.”

Nash said the ordinance was first passed in 2005, but was sparsely enforced prior to an increase of citations starting in the summer of 2023. In a press release, Mountain State Justice said a “homelessness crisis” has led to “government efforts to shame, drive out, and ticket, fine and arrest our neighbors for experiencing poverty and illness in public.”

“At its heart, this case is not about being unhoused or people who are affected by homelessness, it is about the First Amendment right to free speech,” Nash said. “Soliciting charity is an act of free speech.”

Nash said the goal of the suit is to see the ordinance not be enforced and preferably removed from the books entirely. She said the court process could take several months, but the next step is for Morgantown to be formally notified of the suit and submit a response.

Legislative Interims, Digital Parenting Demands And Composting, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, legislators started off the week back in Charleston for the first time since the end of the regular session for interim meetings. Meanwhile, we heard about the state’s rising natural gas production, the new challenges of digital devices for parents, and ahead of Earth Day, we took a look at a major composting operation.

On this West Virginia Week, legislators started off the week back in Charleston for the first time since the end of the regular session for interim meetings. We learned more about the state’s finances, government auditing and a new approach to maintaining the state’s roads.

Meanwhile, we heard about the state’s rising natural gas production, the new challenges of digital devices for parents, and ahead of Earth Day, we took a look at a major composting operation.

We’ll dive into these topics, plus a national award for a local breakfast favorite and upgrades to regional rail-trails.

Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.