October 13, 2021

CHARLESTON, W.Va.  – The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) accepted the West Virginia Department of Education’s (WVDE) 2021 Strategic Plan today at the board’s monthly meeting at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston. The WVBE and WVDE developed the plan’s vision, mission, core beliefs, priority indicators and strategies around the needs of students, educators, caregivers and the broader education community to implement a comprehensive statewide system of coordinated and seamless services for students from birth through Grade 12.

With the interruptions to the school system, student learning and systemic supports during COVID-19, there was a need to adjust the Strategic Plan to account for challenges in student achievement and mental health. Assessment data from last school year has been included which will serve as a new baseline for the development of benchmarks set next year.

“The Strategic Plan is an important tool to not only see where we are as a state school system but to also cast a vision for our teachers, staff and students,” said WVBE President Miller Hall. “The impact of the pandemic will have long-term effects on everything we do, and the strategic plan will infuse and guide our efforts to restore learning and progress for our children.”

To review the 2021 Strategic Plan, visit wvde.us/strategic-plan/.

The WVBE also approved the latest Special Circumstance Review of Lincoln County. The team has spent the past several months focusing on the county’s facilities and reported on 14 districtwide findings and 19 districtwide corrective actions. These items ranged from restricting access to areas that posed safety risks to replacing HVAC systems that were operating beyond their expected life range.

“The WVDE continues to work closely with county and school personnel during the review process and appreciates Lincoln County’s spirit of cooperation during this extensive process,” said Superintendent of Schools W. Clayton Burch. “Some of the findings can be fixed quickly and relatively simply, and others will require more time and resources. Regardless, we will extend support to the county so that our children have the safest and most productive learning environment.”

To view the Lincoln County report, visit wvde.us/accountability/accountability-services/.

Finally, the WVBE placed Policy 1242: State Board of Education Policy-Making Process on 30-day public comment. The policy has been revised to clarify the WVBE’s rule-making procedures and the process for collaboration with the Legislature as well as correcting formatting, grammar and punctuation concerns. The policy will be placed on public comment for 30 days and may be reviewed at wvde.state.wv.us/policies/.

For more information, contact the West Virginia Department of Education Office of Communications at 304-558-2699 or by emailing Christy.day@k12.wv.us.

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