§18A-3-1c Study of training, certification and licensing; report to legislative oversight commission on education accountability at December, 2001, interim meetings; collaboration on sources of fundin - West Virginia Statutes

§18A-3-1c. Study of training, certification and licensing; report to legislative oversight commission on education accountability at December, 2001, interim meetings; collaboration on sources of funding for education and training for reduction in force; teacher to gain additional certification in areas of critical need and shortage.
(a) The Legislature finds that the training, certification and licensing of professional educators is not well coordinated with the employment laws of the state particularly with respect to the middle school grade levels. The Legislature further finds that the statutes place responsibility for the training, certification and licensing of professional educators with the state board of education after consultation with the secretary of education and the arts. Therefore, the Legislature hereby directs the state board and the secretary of education and the arts to undertake a study of the policies, programs and statutes relating to the training, certification and licensing of professional educators and to report their findings, conclusions and recommendations along with any necessary legislation for improving the coordination of the programs, policies and statutes with the needs of the public schools of this state to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability at its December, two thousand one, interim meeting. The study and recommendations shall also include an analysis of the cost and availability of certified teachers, along with recommended solutions, for any new courses required by state board policy to be offered in the public schools.

(b) The Legislature finds that there is a need to address areas of critical need and shortage for professional educators and that an expeditious approach for doing so is through the upgrading of the education and training of fully certified teachers who because of declining enrollment can no longer be employed in their area of certification and licensure. Therefore, the state superintendent, the vice chancellor for administration, the chancellor of the higher education policy commission shall collaborate with the governor's workforce development office on other potential sources of funds to assist professional educators whose contract of employment with a county board of education were not renewed due to a reduction in force to gain additional certification in areas of critical need and shortage.