http://challengewv.org Challenge West Virginia is a statewide organization of parents, educators and other West Virginians committed to maintaining and improving small community schools. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:40:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en By Phil Kabler Gov. Joe Manchin said Tuesday he was "very disappointed" that the Legislature failed to pass any substantial public school reform legislation during the recently completed seven-day special session. "We stepped forward as hard as we could ... and we still got nothing," he said of the seven-bill agenda for education ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/manchin-very-disappointed-about-lack-of-school-reform/ The WV Legislature, while passing some feel-good initiatives that could improve student performance, continues to shy away from significant educational reform in West Virginia. West Virginia ranks near the bottom of US states in student performance, while spending among the largest amount of money on education per capita in the country. They ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/wv-education-changes-face-uphill-battle/ by Alice Coleman Democracy that embodies the will of the people does not apply in Fayette County. During the last eight years, Fayette County citizens have overwhelmingly voted against two bond issues for consolidation of our schools. In 2001, 88 percent of our citizens voted against the bond issue. In 2009, 78 ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/democracy-under-assault-in-fayette-county/ by Ry Rivard Daily Mail Capitol Reporter Charleston Daily Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Until a U.S. Senate vacancy opened up, this week was supposed to be all about Gov. Joe Manchin's education reform agenda. Yet in between the frantic rush to hold an election, lawmakers have been quietly scaling back the governor's already pared ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/lawmakers-scale-back-school-reform/ By Davin White, Staff writer The Charleston Gazette . State education officials have set ambitious goals aimed at enrolling more students in Advanced Placement courses and getting more of them to pass the exams at the end of the courses.  . When certified by the New York-based College Board, Advanced Placement classes offer higher-level learning in ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/state-school-board-looks-to-get-more-kids-in-ap-courses/ By Amelia A. Pridemore Register-Herald Reporter Fayette County school officials placed a microphone in front of citizens, giving them the chance to voice their opinions on a proposed 10-year school plan. That microphone was practically used just as — if not more than — often as one in a concert Monday night. Parents, ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/fayette-residents-discuss-school-plan-nothing-set-in-concrete-yet-superintendent-says/ By Greg Prudich Ah, the myth of yet another magic bullet to save education – the charter school. Envisioned years ago as an alternative to "failing" urban schools, the idea is for a group to operate free of the many rules and regulations that govern traditional public schools. The "charter" establishing such ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/if-freedom-to-teach-is-the-goal-how-about-removing-some-of-these-regulations/ by Zack Harold Daily Mail staff MASON COUNTY, W.Va. -- The Mason County Board of Education passed a resolution Tuesday asking member Teresa Warner, 51 of Point Pleasant, to leave office immediately. Warner, an adult education teacher working at the Lakin Correctional Center in West Columbia, was arrested in Mason County on July 1 ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/school-board-member-accused-in-cash-for-ged-scheme/ The Department of Health and Human Resources is accepting applications for school clothing vouchers for low-income families. The $200 vouchers must be used at participating stores by Oct. 31. While families that receive WV Works cash assistance and children in foster care get vouchers automatically, DHHR says others must apply by July ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/clothing-vouchers-will-be-issued-for-eligible-students/ www.ed.gov The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. Schools must notify ... http://challengewv.org/newsletter/family-educational-rights-privacy-act-notice-to-parents-and-students-of-their-rights/