Saturday will be education reform redux at the State Capitol, at least on the Senate side of the building.
Senate President Mitch Carmichael has called Senators back to Charleston to work on the latest attempt to legislate changes to how West Virginia delivers a “thorough and efficient education,” as required by the State Constitution.
The Student Success Act (SSA) of 2019 bears a strong resemblance to SB 451, which failed during the regular session earlier this year. SSA has the pay raise for teachers and service workers, additional wrap-around services, bonus pay for hard-to-fill teaching positions, subsidies for counties with student enrollment below 1,400, bonus pay of $500 for teachers who use no more than four leave days and, wait for it…
… charter schools.
The bill allows county school boards to authorize public charter schools. The state board could also authorize a charter if the local board elects not to. Additionally, state colleges and universities could create up to four charter public schools.
The proposed legislation does not include education savings accounts, which would allow parents to use public money to pay for alternative education for their children. Senate President Mitch Carmichael said ESAs will be taken up in a stand-alone bill.
Carmichael said on Talkline Tuesday that he wants to complete work on the Student Success Act in just one day, and that’s going to be difficult.
First, the Senate must suspend the rule requiring that a bill be read on three separate days. That will take the approval of four-fifths of the members present. If all 34 members are present, 28 must vote in favor of the rule suspension.
Republicans hold 20 of the 34 seats so Carmichael will need some Democratic help, something he did not have when the Senate took up the omnibus education bill (SB 451) during the regular session. It passed 18-16 with all Democrats and two Republicans (Bill Hamilton and Kenny Mann) voting against it.
If Carmichael can get over that hurdle, then prepare for a long day Saturday of amendments and debate… and more amendments and more debate. The bill is 144 pages, which means that Senators will have tons of questions. Senators who oppose the bill may try to work it to death.
So, Carmichael has his work cut out for him between now and Saturday. The key will be whether he can generate some Democratic votes. He does not need them just to pass the bill on to the House, but some level of bi-partisan support would dramatically improve the chances of final approval.