Education reform
Carmichael defends Student Success Act
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CHARLESTON -- The president of the West Virginia Senate went to the press Thursday to defend a second attempt to introduce a massive education reform bill and get it passed in one day.
Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, held a press conference in the Governor's Cabinet and Conference Room at the Capitol to provide more details on the Student Success Act, a 144-page draft bill released last Friday.
"This is an incredibly important subject we're pursuing," Carmichael said. "We've struggled with this issue...but we need to recognize the current condition of our education system. I do not believe this has been reported on properly."
Citing data compiled by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce and pulled from sources such as the state Department of Education, SAT scores and National Assessment of Educational Progress scores. According to the data, West Virginia ranks 49th in the nation in SAT scores, 46th and 45th in eighth grade math and reading scores, respectively, and 88 percent of high schools do not meet state math standards.
"We should all be morally convicted and inspired to improve the condition of our education system in our state," Carmichael said. "For us to be complacent about it or for us to take our time with these concepts that have been brewing around the capitol for decades, it's time to act."
Senators will resume the education special session Saturday to consider the new omnibus bill along with other individual pieces of legislation, including an updated education savings account proposal.
Senate Republican leadership plans to suspend the rules requiring bills be read on three separate days to pass all bills Saturday, which would then go to the House of Delegates when it returns for the special session June 17. To suspend the rules, the 20-member Senate Republican majority would need four-fifths -- or eight Democrats -- to agree to that motion.
Carmichael admitted finding those votes might be a heavy lift. If the rules are not suspended, the Senate would return Sunday and Monday to complete the work on the Student Success Act.
"Am I confident? No, I'm not 100 percent confident on it," Carmichael said. "I'm appealing to those on both sides of the aisles who have received the bills. These have been thoroughly vetted. These are concepts that have been reviewed and people are aware of. Come to the Capitol ready to work."
At least one Senate Democrat, Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley, is already pushing back against the Student Success Act. Unger, in a statement, raised questions about the constitutionality of putting so many differing proposals in one bill, as well as giving charter schools freedoms that public schools don't have.
"...The multiple provisions of this omnibus bill need to be separated to allow each to be voted on so they can each stand or fall on their own merits," Unger said. "Since the state Constitution prohibits the creation of an independent school organization without the consent of the school board of the county in which the charter school will operate, and a majority of the voters in the county, the procedure for the authorization of charter schools contained in the (Student Success Act) is unconstitutional."
The Student Success Act's predecessor, Senate Bill 451, also traveled quickly through the Senate. SB 451 was first revealed to members of the Senate Education Committee Jan. 24 as an originating bill and passed out of committee the next day. The bill was passed by the full Senate on Feb. 4, 11 days later.
If the Senate can pass the Student Success Act Saturday, it will be nine days from the time the draft bill was released to senators and the public. Carmichael said the process for the Student Success Act will not be a repeat of what happened to SB 451, which died in the House when the two bodies could not agree on education savings accounts and the number of public charter schools.
"I am optimistic there will be bipartisan support for this bill as it comes through the Senate. I'll be disappointed if there's not," Carmichael said. "If there's not, it will go to the House and they'll take it up. I feel confident when they're as motivated -- and I believe that they are -- when they see the results and understand the results of our current education system, for someone to not act quickly on this they'll have some answering to do."
The Student Success Act includes a 5 percent pay raise for teachers and school service personnel as proposed by Gov. Jim Justice last October. It also includes provisions to provide more flexibility for county school systems, increased funding and local control of how school aid dollars are spent. It allows for open enrollment across county borders and additional alternative schools, including an expansion of the West Virginia National Guard's Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy.
The new public charter school language includes recommendations from the state Department of Education based on feedback from eight regional roundtable events. It gives county boards of education, the state Board of Education and the state's colleges and universities authority to authorize public charter schools. It also gives the state Board of Education final say over charter denials and revocations.
If passed, it would make West Virginia the 45th state (including Washington, D.C.) to allow charter schools.
"Is this a wild and crazy idea," Carmichael said. "Charter schools have absolutely made education systems better throughout America. There is a plethora of data on how charter schools can impact and improve and enhance the educational performance of students who participate."
Also included in the Student Success Act: increased funding for counselors, nurses and mental health professionals in schools; increased professional development for teachers and principals; updates to truancy laws; provisions to punish work stoppages; a study of class sizes; tax credits for teachers; changes to scholarship programs to encourage college students to become math, science, or special education teachers; and increased compensation for math teachers.
"Once the people of West Virginia realize the condition of our current education system...then they will rise up and want change," Carmichael said. "They're better than the current condition of our education system. We are better than this. Our kids are better than this. Our students, teachers and parents -- this society is better than last place."
(Adams can be contacted at sadams@newsandsentinel.com)