March 11, 2019
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Paine today announced opportunities for stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue regarding possible education reform that may be considered during the special legislative session.
The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will host seven public forums as part of a statewide listening tour over the next month. The first forum will be Monday, March 18, 2019, in Cabell County at Cabell Midland High School, 6 p.m. Additional forums will take place at the following locations: Capital High School in Kanawha County, Woodrow Wilson High School in Raleigh County, Robert C. Byrd High School in Harrison County, Wheeling Park High School in Ohio County, Berkeley Springs High School in Morgan County and Mount View High School in McDowell County. Times and dates for the additional locations will be announced shortly. Pre-registration for all public forums is preferred and will be available at wvde.us. However, no attendee will be turned away.
The goal of the forums is to elicit input about how to best improve education in the Mountain State. Each will be led by an experienced facilitator and will begin with a short presentation followed by roundtable discussions in groups. These small group discussions will seek input on the core issues surrounding education and bring together a range of perspectives and viewpoints from across the state. All are invited to attend these public forums.
Governor Jim Justice has called a special session so legislators can solely focus on education betterment. Paine will announce opportunities for stakeholders to provide input and engage in dialogue ahead of the special session.
“As the state’s lead education agency, we have an obligation to facilitate input from all stakeholders concerning education betterment,” Paine said. “We have received full support from Governor Justice and legislative leadership to solicit stakeholder input statewide.”
The WVDE will provide a report to Governor Justice and members of the West Virginia legislature, with a goal of highlighting research-based strategies that will improve student achievement. The WVDE will also provide three online surveys – one for parents and community members, one for students and one for educators – on its website later this week.
For more information, contact Kristin Anderson at the West Virginia Department of Education Office of Communications at 304-558-2699 or Kristin.Anderson@k12.wv.us.