Committee on Education Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Legislators Learn Challenges For Teachers With The Third Grade Success Act

Legislators learned that it may take teachers years to be fully prepared for the implementation of the state’s new early childhood literacy requirements.

With House Bill 3035 and the Third Grade Success Act set to become law next month, the Joint Standing Committee on Education heard a presentation on the science of reading during interim meetings at Marshall University Monday.

Toni Backstrom, strategic state solutions manager at Lexia Learning, explained to the lawmakers that their goal of increasing reading proficiency is possible, but it will take a lot of work and specifically support for teachers.

“Research and science show us that 95 percent of students can learn,” she said. “I don’t say that lightly. A number of our students will struggle, they will need additional support and intervention. But if our teachers have the expertise, they can meet every one of those students where they are when they step into the room and get them on that trajectory to success.”

Senate Education Committee Chair Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, who is a teacher, said teacher training and professional development will likely take years.

“Our teachers are so used to professional development being a one day thing. We have an eight hour day and schedule the kids are off and we have professional development that day and it ends that day,” Grady said. “For this to be expanded, I think that’s going to be our challenge, is the mindset of ‘Okay, it’s not something I’m learning in one day. It’s something that I am using and continuing to learn over the course of a few years and even still doing it after that as well.’”

State Legislators Hear New Plans To Improve Childhood Literacy

Members of the West Virginia Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Education met Sunday evening to learn more about early childhood literacy.

State Superintendent of Schools David Roach laid out the state’s vision for education. He detailed a simple approach to prioritize reading, writing and math at the elementary level to build a solid foundation for West Virginia’s youngest learners.

“I have advocated for, since assuming the superintendent’s position in August, that literacy is the key that unlocks the door to students and our state’s success,” Roach said. “I committed the Department of Education to return to the focus of academic achievement.”

Roach called recent reports on student achievement and assessments as a call to action, not just for educators, but for parents and community members as well. West Virginia had some of the lowest math and reading scores in the nation on the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress, released last month.

“This is a job beyond the ability of one state agency,” he said. “Instead the state as a whole and all the entities within it must work to build and advance reading, literacy and writing.”

Roach laid out a plan to bring more stakeholders into the educational conversation by creating a committee that would help standardize academic expectations across the state. He also expressed a desire to hire, train and deploy reading specialists across the state.

Legislators also heard from two educational experts on early intervention approaches that have worked in other communities across the country.

Rucker Named Chair Of New Senate Alternative Education Committee

When Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, declared she would challenge Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, for chamber leadership, Blair removed Rucker as chair of the Education Committee. On Tuesday, Blair created a Select Senate Committee on Alternative Education, and named Rucker as chair.

When Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, declared she would challenge Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, for chamber leadership, Blair removed Rucker as chair of the Education Committee.

On Tuesday, Blair created a Select Senate Committee on Alternative Education, and named Rucker as chair.

“It will meet at the will and pleasure of the senate president,” Rucker said. It’s not a joint committee, it’s not an interim committee but it will meet during the regular session, on a very specific topic.”

Well-versed on non-traditional schooling, Rucker said her focus will be on helping implement alternative educational opportunities in the private and public sector.

“My understanding is that alternative educational opportunities will encompass things like charter schools, micro schools, homeschooling and any other type of alternative educational opportunities for the people of West Virginia,” Rucker said. “The senate president wants someone who can help facilitate that implementation.”

Both Rucker, who is still vying for the senate presidency, and the new Senate Education Committee chair Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, said they can and will work together for the betterment of West Virginia’s students.