W. Va. Code R. § 126-13-11

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 126-13-11 - Needs Analysis, Capacity Building, and Efficiencies

11.1. Purpose. W.Va. Code § 18-2E-5 requires the WVBE to provide a method for assessing school and school system needs including resources, facilities, capacity building, and efficiencies. This requirement is derived from the requirement for and definition of a thorough and efficient system of public education and based on the assurance that resources are targeted strategically to improve student performance.

11.2. Elements. Capacity Building and Resources.

11.2.a. Capacity building. To ensure efficiency, capacity building determinations must be made with respect to the best use of existing human resources to improve teaching and learning. The accreditation process will monitor the school system's (1) efforts to attract and retain high quality personnel, (2) processes and supports put in place to advance the individual and collective skills of staff through professional growth, (3) processes for developing and placing high quality leaders in each school, and (4) processes for developing continuous improvement that enables the principal and staff to collectively assess and improve the quality of school and/or classroom practices.

11.2.b. Resources. A thorough and efficient system of schools requires the provision of an adequate level of appropriately managed resources. The WVBE requires the OEPA to include resource evaluation as a part of the accreditation and evaluation process. This process exists to meaningfully evaluate the needs for facilities, transportation, personnel, curriculum, equipment, and materials in each of the county's schools and how those resources impact programs and student performance. The WVBE hereby recognizes that W. Va. Code § 18-2E-5 adopts resource evaluation as one of the necessary steps to make determinations for needed capacity building to improve efficiency and establish priorities for additional resource needs when the educational program of a school or school system fails to meet the performance and process standards.

11.3. Reporting Process.

11.3.a. The WVBE shall recommend to the appropriate body including, but not limited to, the Legislature, county boards, schools, and communities methods for targeting resources strategically to eliminate deficiencies identified in the assessment and accountability processes, including but not limited to the following methods:

11.3.a.1. Examining reports and electronic strategic improvement plans regarding the performance and progress of students, schools, and school systems relative to the standards and identifying the areas in which improvement is needed;

11.3.a.2. Determining the areas of weakness and of ineffectiveness that appear to have contributed to the substandard performance of students or the deficiencies of the school or school system;

11.3.a.3. Determining the areas of strength that appear to have contributed to exceptional student, school, and school system performance and progress, and promoting their emulation throughout the system;

11.3.a.4.Requesting technical assistance from the School Building Authority in assessing or designing comprehensive educational facilities plans;

11.3.a.5. Recommending priority funding from the School Building Authority based on identified needs;

11.3.a.6. Requesting special staff development programs from the Center for Professional Development, the Principals' Academy, higher education, RESAs, and county boards of education based on identified needs;

11.3.a.7. Submitting requests to the Legislature for appropriations to meet the identified needs for improving education;

11.3.a.8. Directing county boards to target their funds strategically toward alleviating deficiencies;

11.3.a.9. Ensuring that the need for facilities in counties with increased enrollment is appropriately reflected and recommended for funding;

11.3.a.10. Ensuring that the appropriate person or entity is held accountable for eliminating deficiencies; and

11.3.a.11. Ensuring that the needed capacity is available from the state and local level to assist the school or school system in achieving the standards and alleviating the deficiencies.

11.3.b. Resource evaluation is a part of the education performance audit and will lead to recommendations identifying areas in which additional capacity is needed by the school system or school. Corrective measures to be taken in response to any identified resource deficiencies will be subject to the feasibility of modifying existing facilities, availability of funding, and prioritization of educational needs.

11.3.c. Facilities and equipment specified in W.Va. 126CSR172, Policy 6200, Handbook on Planning School Facilities, hereinafter Policy 6200, Chapters 1 through 14, are available in all schools, classrooms, and other required areas. A determination will be made by using the Process for Improving Education (W.Va. Code § 18-2E-5) whether any identified deficiencies adversely impact and impair the delivery of a high quality educational program due to inadequacies or inappropriate management in the areas of facilities, equipment, and materials. The OEPA teams shall utilize an assessment instrument for the evaluation of school facilities which generally follows the requirements of Policy 6200. Corrective measures to be taken in response to any identified resource deficiency will, of necessity, be subject to the feasibility of modifying existing facilities, consideration of alternative methods of instructional delivery, availability of funding, and prioritization of educational needs through the Ten-Year Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan and the School Building Authority. This policy does not change the authority, judgment, or priorities of the School Building Authority which is statutorily responsible for prioritizing "Need" for the purpose of funding school improvements or school construction in the State of West Virginia or the prerogative of the Legislature in providing resources. (Policy 6200 and Tomblin v. Gainer)

W. Va. Code R. § 126-13-11