Only three amended bills passed
Special Session brings little change
The recently concluded legislative special session actually started in May as a response to losing the first round of Race to the Top (RTTT) funding and the hope of securing funding for the second round. The governor appeared before the State Board and challenged them to address school reform legislation needed in order to win RTTT funding in the second round. The WVBE responded with the report “It’s all about the kids” that included twenty-eight items.
The governor placed eight of those items on the call for the May special session – charter schools, health screening, hiring criteria, school teams, alternative certification, low performing schools, evaluations and incentive pay.
During the May session it appears the governor did very little to build consensus for his so called ‘reform agenda’. It also became apparent he did not have the support to pass his agenda through the legislature. Instead of allowing the bills to be defeated, he brought the parties together and created a work group. Even thought the deadline for the second round of RTTT funding had already passed, the governor was determined to go forward with an education reform special session in the future.
WVEA agreed to participate in the work group believing that we would be a true participant in the process and that we would be able to initiate true reform to improve our public schools instead of the unproven trends offered in response to the RTTT application.
Our hopes were soon dampened as it became clear the unions could not vote, offer amendments or propose new items in the work group. So rather than work to improve the legislation, the work group adopted bills that were very polarizing.
An opportunity for real input with an equal voice could have improved the legislation and fostered bills that were better positioned to pass. Unfortunately, after many days and hours spent discussing the legislation, the work group finished with bills that were similar to those originally introduced.
The work group did produce a number of good recommendations for the governor with the suggestion they be included in the special session. WVEA recommendations included: salary increases, alternative education programs for elementary and middle schools, reducing truancy, and others. However, with the exception of alternative education programs, the governor did not include our items in the call.
Fortunately, many members of the House Education Committee are or were actual education professionals, teachers, principals or support professionals. They recognized from the beginning the items proposed by the governor did not constitute real reform and would not lead to increased student achievement. They are people who are trained in education, child development and are teaching professionals.
It is unfortunate, however, the House members were labeled by the press, the governor, the Senate and others as problems in the process. Simply because you have a greater level of understanding and disagree with a concept does not mean you are stuck in the past or beholden to special interest as many have portrayed.
Quite the opposite is true. The House is the larger and more deliberative body of the legislature. They are closer and more accountable to their constituents due to their small regions and the fact they are up for election every two years.
It was also clear during this special session the governor had lost interest in his education agenda. He chose not to introduce a number of the items recommended by WVEA in the work group that would truly improve our schools. As a matter of fact, the education portion of the special session was completely overshadowed by the bill to fill the US Senate vacancy. The governor actually held a press conference to announce his candidacy for the vacancy as the House was upstairs debating his education agenda.
It is time to stop pointing fingers as to why bad legislation did not pass and look forward to the next legislative session in January. We must work throughout the fall to create the atmosphere and write legislation which will truly reform education in our state.
We know our members are dedicated to great schools. It is time to work together and make it happen!
Legislation passing during the special session includes:
1. 210/2010 - Alternative Learning Centers -creates uniform standards for all alternative learning centers (ALCs) and creates a pilot programs for five elementary schools and middle schools. $1 million was appropriated for the pilots.
2. 209/2009 - Community School Pilot Program - creates a special community school pilot program to be implemented at one public school for a five year period. The school, to be designated by the State Superintendent, will have significant enrollments of disadvantaged minority and under-achieving students. The school will work with community organizations, higher education and the State Board to develop and implement strategies that could be replicated in other schools with similar enrollment characteristics. All other provisions of the governor’s original bill - differential pay, career ladder, incentives based on student growth- were stricken from the bill.
3. 206/2006 - School Teams and School Committees - allows for the combining of certain school teams and committees to encourage greater collaboration.