§18-2E-5c Process for Improving Education Council established; membership; expenses; meetings; powers. - West Virginia Statutes

§18-2E-5c. Process for Improving Education Council established; membership; expenses; meetings; powers.
(a) Process for Improving Education Council. -- There is hereby established the Process for Improving Education Council for the purpose of providing opportunities for consultation among state policy leaders on the process for improving education, including, but not limited to, determination of the things that students should know and be able to do as the result of a thorough and efficient education, the performance and progress of students toward meeting the high quality standards established by the state board, adopting goals, objectives, strategies, indicators and benchmarks for public education and any further improvements necessary to increase the capacity of schools and school systems to deliver a thorough and efficient education.

(b) Council membership. -- The Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, together with the Governor, ex officio, or the Governor's designee, the Chancellor of the Higher Education Policy Commission, ex officio, or the chancellor's designee, the Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education, ex officio, or the chancellor's designee and the state superintendent comprise the Process for Improving Education Council. Ex officio members are entitled to vote. The Governor or the Governor's designee shall convene the council, as appropriate, and shall serve as chair. The council may meet at any time at the call of the Governor or the Governor's designee.

(c) Compensation. -- Members of the council shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed as provided by law by their respective agencies for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their official duties under this section upon presentation of an itemized sworn statement of their expenses.

(d) Powers of the council. --

The council has the following powers:

(1) To meet and consult with the state board, or its designees, and make recommendations on issues related to student, school and school system performance. The following steps are part of the consultation process:

(A) The state board shall notify each member of the council whenever the state board proposes to amend its rules on any of the following issues:

(i) High quality education standards and efficiency standards established pursuant to section five of this article;

(ii) Indicators of efficiency established pursuant to section five of this article; and

(iii) Assessment and accountability of school and school system performance and processes established pursuant to section five of this article.

(B) The notice to be given pursuant to paragraph (A) of this subdivision shall contain a summary and explanation of the proposed changes, including a draft of the proposal when available, and shall be sent at least fifteen days prior to filing the proposal with the Secretary of State for public comment.

(C) If the Governor, or the Governor's designee, believes it is necessary for the council to meet and consult with the state board, or its designees, on changes proposed to any of the issues outlined in subdivision (1) of this subsection, he or she may convene a meeting of the council.

(D) If both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates believe it is necessary for the council to meet and consult with the state board, or its designees, they shall notify the Governor who shall convene a meeting of the council.

(E) If the chancellor, or the chancellor's designee believes that it is necessary for the council to meet and consult with the state board, or its designees, he or she may request the Governor to convene a meeting of the council.

(2) To require the state board, or its designees, to meet with the council to consult on issues that lie within the scope of the council's jurisdiction;

(3) To participate as observers in any on-site review of a school or school system conducted by the Office of Education Performance Audits; and

(4) To authorize any employee of the agencies represented by council members to participate as observers in any on-site review of a school or school system conducted by the Office of Education Performance Audits.