Bill Cole on Education

High speed internet access in every classroom

Voted NO on pilot program of 10 charter schools

• The Public Charter Schools Act, known as Senate Bill 14, allows for the creation of 10 charter schools in the state within the next 5 years.
• Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are governed by a group or organization under a contract, or charter, with the county board of education.
• The schools are exempt from certain state regulations, which gives them more flexibility and autonomy in their curriculum and instructional practices.
• The proposed bill would not require boards of education to create charter schools, but it would give them the option.
• Cabell County already has created a charter school of sorts with the Explorer Academy, through the state's Innovation Zone initiative. [Some educators] say more Innovation Zones in the state could be the answer, rather than charter schools.

Status:Bill passed Senate, 18-16-0 on March 14; no vote in House. (Jeff Kessler voted NAY).

Pilot program of 10 county-run charter schools

• The Public Charter Schools Act, known as Senate Bill 14, allows for the creation of 10 charter schools in the state within the next 5 years.
• Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are governed by a group or organization under a contract, or charter, with the county board of education.
• The schools are exempt from certain state regulations, which gives them more flexibility and autonomy in their curriculum and instructional practices.
• The proposed bill would not require boards of education to create charter schools, but it would give them the option.
• Cabell County already has created a charter school of sorts with the Explorer Academy, through the state's Innovation Zone initiative. [Some educators] say more Innovation Zones in the state could be the answer, rather than charter schools.

Status:Bill passed Senate, 18-16-0 on March 14; no vote in House. (Bill Cole voted YEA).

Student potential diminished by crippling bureaucracy

It is also my understanding that as much as 80% of the WV prison population is comprised of high school dropouts. This would suggest that if our schools were more crowded, our prisons would be less crowded. We need to give our kids a reason to stay in school- that being the potential for a better life through available employment opportunities as they graduate.