W. Va. Code R. § 126-42-7

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Section 126-42-7 - School Responsibilities

7.1. Schools shall implement WVBE and county policies as well as county and school procedures to ensure high quality delivery of their education program. In meeting this responsibility, schools shall address the following components of a high quality education program.

7.1.a. Administrative Practices.

7.1.a.1. Implement CBEM and WVBE policies and procedures.

7.1.a.2. Ensure that the school is safe and that the environment is conducive to learning and teaching per Policy 4373.

7.1.a.3. Assign students equitably among the classroom teachers, taking into consideration reasonable enrollment differences due to subject area and/or grade levels.

7.1.a.4. Ensure that all teachers and library/media professionals are provided a duty free planning period that is the length of the usual class period and is not less than 40 minutes per day (W. Va. Code § 18A-4-14).

7.1.a.5. Participate in the West Virginia Education Information System (WVEIS) and other WVDE data collections through adherence to data collection calendars and guidance documentation, which are developed and maintained through the WVDE data governance structure per Policy 4350, to ensure compliance with state and federal reporting requirements and to support the population and sustainability of the state's longitudinal data system for educational decision making.

7.1.a.6. Implement a system to monitor absences and dropout rates and, when appropriate, develop plans to reduce the student absenteeism and dropout rates;

7.1.a.7. Ensure a process for timely, accurate, and complete entering of data into the WVEIS.

7.1.b. Content Focused Standards and Instruction. Each school shall offer rigorous instructional opportunities and strategies that are based on state content standards via county-determined instructional materials and teacher-created curricula. Specific requirements are outlined in sections 4, 5, and 6.

7.1.b.2. School schedules shall be organized to maximize flexibility of academic learning time through a variety of strategies.

7.1.b.3. Flexible scheduling of students and staff shall be used to ensure that every student has the opportunity to achieve or exceed mastery of each content standard.

7.1.b.4. Principals shall ensure that educators:

7.1.b.4.A. implement content standards for learning and are aware of the instruction students have received prior to entering the grade level they teach and what the expectations are for students to be able to succeed at subsequent grade levels;

7.1.b.4.B. use instructional practices that are evidence- and research-based;

7.1.b.4.C. utilize the West Virginia Tiered System of Support (WVTSS) that is inclusive of high quality practices allowing all students to sustain significant progress, whether they are considered at-risk, exceeding grade-level expectations, or at any point along the continuum. The WVTSS emphasizes the integration of academics, behavior, and mental health as uniformly critical to student success, and focuses on the cohesive system of support rather than interventions alone;

7.1.b.4.D. develop and use assessments aligned with the content standards to drive instructional improvement for all students;

7.1.b.4.D.1. assessments may include standardized, non-standardized, performance assessments, end-of-course/program of study (EOC) exams, portfolios, observation performance data, achievement checklists, teacher-made tests, and other assessments that are at the direction of and for use by the classroom teacher; and

7.1.b.4.D.2. a formative assessment process shall be used in all grades to provide educators with information to inform instruction, personalize planning, and share individual students' progress with families in meaningful ways.

7.1.b.5. Principals shall monitor pupil performance related to the approved content standards of the school education program and work with teachers to make appropriate adjustments to the instructional program.

7.1.b.6. Principals and school personnel shall monitor and update records of student progress for student, parent, and teacher information.

7.1.c. Leadership. The principal fosters distributed leadership among staff, students, family, and community stakeholders, as appropriate, to create a shared understanding and commitment to improved student academic success. Schools shall ensure leadership meets the standards set forth in Policy 2322. In addition, each school shall:

7.1.c.1. ensure that parents have opportunities to be involved in the school and their child's education;

7.1.c.2. operate a faculty senate that facilitates school improvement through practices outlined in W. Va. Code § 18-5A-5 and in accordance with Policy 3234;

7.1.c.3. operate a school curriculum team that establishes instructional programs and methods, based on the needs of the school, and that implements the state-approved content standards (W. Va. Code § 18-5A-6);

7.1.c.4. analyze programs using a continuous system of program assessment and program improvement;

7.1.c.5. develop and implement a School Strategic Plan that is based on the identified needs of the students and is developed collaboratively by the Local School Improvement Council (LSIC), the principal, faculty senate, school technology team, school curriculum team, and other appropriate stakeholders.

7.1.c.6. maintain a LSIC that facilitates improvement of educational quality by encouraging the involvement of the school community in the operation of the school as outlined in W. Va. Code § 18-5A-2 and by utilizing the waiver process when appropriate.

7.1.c.7. utilize a school technology team that collaborates with the school strategic planning committee to develop a comprehensive technology plan that includes Policy 2460.

7.1.d. Professional Learning. Each school shall have a process for developing, providing, and participating in programs for professional learning based on research, data, and Policy 5500.

7.1.d.1. ensure that professional staff participate in continuous high quality, sustained, and classroom-focused professional learning that increases the knowledge and skills required to create conditions that result in students achieving high levels of performance in the approved West Virginia content standards series (Policy 2520 series, W. Va. 126CSR44AA through 126CSR44U);

7.1.d.2. ensure that teachers participate in the county's intentional, coordinated efforts to provide a comprehensive system of support found in the professional learning component of the County Strategic Plan for all teachers and administrators per provisions of W. Va. Code § 18A-3C-3;

7.1.d.3. ensure that all teachers who teach College Board AP® courses have completed the required professional learning for their content area and have received approval of their curriculum from the College Board. (See Appendix B.)

7.1.d.4. ensure that an administrator from each high school attends a College Board endorsed AP® related workshop once every two years. (See Appendix B.)

7.1.e. Special Education provides services and resources to meet the unique needs of all students with disabilities. Schools shall ensure special education requirements set forth in Policy 2419 are implemented.

7.1.e.1. Student Assistance Team (SAT). Schools shall ensure a Student Assistance Team (SAT) is operational to conduct the problem solving process for individual students whose academic, mental health, or behavior concerns are impeding their success in the school environment. This problem solving process is outlined more specifically in Policy 2419. However, the SAT process may be used to address the needs of all students, whether or not a multidisciplinary evaluation is being considered.

7.1.f. Alternate Delivery of Education Programs. The school shall follow county policies and procedures when providing for alternative delivery of education and service programs for students. A

7.1.g. School Counseling Program. Schools shall ensure school counseling programs adhere to W. Va. Code § 18-5-18b, Policy 2315, Policy 5100, as well as the West Virginia Professional School Counselor Standards found in Policy 5100. School counselors will work collaboratively with other school staff to assist students with academic and post-secondary planning, including the opportunity to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), that leads to seamless transitions to students' identified post-secondary option as required in Policy 2315.

7.1.g.1. Comprehensive School Counseling Program (CSCP). The CSCP is a proactive, systemic approach to assist students with the acquisition of attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to maximize student success and preparation for a variety of post-secondary options. The WVDE provides assurances that the state comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling policy reflects provisions of Policy 2315. Policy 2520.19 outlines the attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviors essential to support all students in achieving everyday school success and in being college- and career-ready.

7.1.h. Health and Psychological Services. Emphasis is placed on preventive services, health promotion, and education to support academic success, reduce absenteeism, and promote lifetime health and wellness.

7.1.h.1. School health services are coordinated through the certified school nurse to provide early identification of health conditions and communicable diseases, daily support and care for students with specialized health care needs during the instructional day with linkage, and follow-up care to services as required in Policy 2422.7 and Policy 2423.

7.1.h.2. School psychological services facilitate the interpersonal and academic development of all students and foster the social/emotional health and the academic success of students. School psychologists assist teachers, professional support staff, and other school personnel with assessment information, academic and behavior intervention plans, and understanding student implications in relation to school performance and safe school considerations.

7.1.i. Diversity and Multicultural Education. To foster an environment of respect for the histories, cultures, and contributions of diverse groups, multicultural education awareness must be developed and embedded across all content areas per W. Va. Code § 18-5-15a.

7.1.j. A hunter safety orientation program shall be offered at least once every spring semester in every middle school of the state as required by W. Va. Code § 18-2-8a. The program shall be conducted by an instructor employed by or certified by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources or who has other training necessary to conduct the program. At the option of each county board of education, the hunter safety orientation program may also be offered during the fall semester in any middle school in the state or may be offered in any high school in the state: Provided, that the demand to take the hunter safety orientation program is sufficient and that certified instructors are available. If there is an insufficient number of students at a middle school requesting or registering for the class in a given semester, the school shall not be required to conduct the class that semester. The hunter safety program is voluntary to students. The county board of education shall have the discretion to establish the minimum number of students requesting the safety orientation program class in a semester necessary to provide the class that semester. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources shall issue a certificate of training to any students who completed the hunter safety orientation program.

7.1.j.1. Counties who choose to offer hunter safety as part of, or as a credit bearing course, must create standards and provide credit through a certified teacher of record.

W. Va. Code R. § 126-42-7