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W.Va. Senate votes to end Common Core tests

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia’s Senate on Friday narrowly passed legislation to replace the state’s standardized tests aligned to the Common Core curriculum with other tests that would be subject to lawmakers’ approval.

The 18-16 vote shows a sharp divide between senators who say their colleagues are ill-equipped to make that decision and those who say the Board of Education imposed the current flawed system with little input from parents, teachers or legislators.

The board has been considering plans to replace the current Smarter Balanced testing. The bill was one of many advancing in the House and Senate this week with their session scheduled to end in two weeks

“The purpose of the bill is to make sure we don’t end up back in the situation we did with Common Core, where essentially it was all done with very little public knowledge,” Sen. Robert Karnes said after the vote. The Upshur County Republican called the federally backed Common Core approach “a very big failure.”

Sen. Mike Romano, a Harrison County Democrat, said West Virginia needs a strong public education system, and it’s already difficult for lawmakers to make decisions. Some of those pushing the change don’t actually participate in it, educating their children elsewhere, he said.

Karnes said his children are home schooled, but he has a stake in the public schools where children of friends and other family members go. He noted that he also pays school taxes.

Also Friday, the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee advanced legislation to allow certain patients to be prescribed marijuana for medicinal purposes.

In other action, the House of Delegates voted 97-2 for legislation to authorize three municipalities or counties and individuals in nonprofit co-ops to build broadband networks to reach underserved areas. It would establish a state council to map service statewide and collect data on services and speeds.

Earlier this week, the Senate voted 24-10 to increase from $2 to $5 the maximum wager for a single video lottery game.

The Senate also voted to permit the sale of used cars that cannot even run provided their condition is disclosed. Vehicles could be sold without warranties if they meet one of five criteria: sold for less than $2,500, driven more than 80,000 miles already, at least seven years old, custom built or modified for show or racing, or inoperable and a total loss.

The House voted down legislation that would have reduced the number of potential jurors that a defendant can remove before trial while increasing the number prosecutors can strike.

Separate bills advancing in the House and Senate would end the West Virginia Racing Commission’s Greyhound Breeding Development Fund. The bills would transfer $15 million in anticipated payouts to dog breeders for the next fiscal year to an excess lottery revenue fund for the Legislature’s appropriation.

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