Ninety-seven schools have been identified in 39 West Virginia counties. Elementary and middle schools were identified based on 2012 WESTEST 2 results. High schools were identified based on gaps in graduation rates. A list of focus schools can be found at: http://wvde.state.wv.us/esea/priority-focus-schools.html.

The focus school designation is part of West Virginia's ESEA Flexibility Waiver, which includes waivers of certain provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as the No Child Left Behind Act.

"This is a whole new ballgame for the student achievement accountability process in West Virginia," said state Superintendent of Schools Jim Phares. "You will notice that some schools on this list are traditionally the MVPs of the system and they are still good schools. However, now it is not just about the number of students meeting proficiency levels but instead how large of a learning gap exists between student groups."

To provide support to focus schools, a Focus Assistance Support Team (FAST) will be created on the state, regional and county levels. The FAST teams will then conduct an assessment of student subgroup strengths and weaknesses to target during the three-year improvement timeline. If a focus school can decrease the gap between student subgroups for two consecutive years and show sufficient progress, it can be transitioned off the list.

In April, the West Virginia Board of Education identified a list of priority schools. Priority schools also are part of West Virginia's ESEA Flexibility. However, these schools were identified based on overall student performance. The schools are among the lowest 5 percent of Title I schools based on school-wide student achievement and a historical lack of progress over three years. All non-Title I schools meeting the same criteria have been identified and are included in the priority schools.

For more information, contact the Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.

This West Virginia Ambassadors Camp is a week-long event to be conducted at the University of Charleston June 17 through June 21. Campers will stay on the UC campus during the week while they learn about West Virginia history as well as participate in classes taught by West Virginia artisans.

"As both an educator and parent, I believe that we cannot afford to overlook the significant and dramatic effect social studies and the arts have on student achievement," said state Superintendent Jim Phares. "Research shows that the study of the arts can have a positive effect on student performance, while the study of social studies leads to a well-informed and civic-minded citizenry. This camp will allow our students to experience both."

County superintendents were invited to send two ambassadors to participate in the program. The students are to be eighth graders during the 2012-2013 school year. Students selected to participate are expected to return to their home counties and serve as ambassadors. Activities throughout the year following the camp are to include presentations at school-wide assemblies, scheduled classroom events at local elementary schools and the creation of an exhibit at county commission buildings.

During the camp, students will spend a day at the West Virginia Capitol Complex, where they will participate in a mock Legislature, tour the state museum, capitol, state archives and state library. In addition, the arts experience will include hands-on art projects as well as a workshop with the West Virginia Dance Company and dress rehearsal with the Charleston Light Opera Guild.

The ambassador program is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, the Sesquicentennial Commission, the City of Charleston, the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, the West Virginia Power baseball team, the University of Charleston, and various other state agencies and non-profit organizations.

For more information, contact Joey Wiseman in the Office of Instruction at 304-558-5325, or the Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.

Tuesday, June 18, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., dance and art sessions, Culture Center; mock Legislature, state Supreme Court; 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., art and dance sessions, archives and backstage tours, Culture Center; 6:30 p.m., play dress rehearsal, Culture Center.

Wednesday, June 19, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., geocaching and nature hike, Kanawha State Forest; 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m., Clay Center museum tour; 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., West Virginia Symphony Orchestra performance, Clay Center; 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., outdoor movie, Capitol lawn.

Thursday, June 20, 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Division of Culture and History sessions, interactive maps in education center, West Virginia archives, state museum tour, West Virginia Jeopardy, Culture Center; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., West Virginia Symphony and Appalachian Children's Chorus, 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. 3-D show and fireworks, Capitol lawn.

The board adopted revisions to Policy 2444.4, Issuance of the State of West Virginia General Education Development (GED) Diploma to allow Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy to become an Option Pathway Program. The change will allow students to complete their high school equivalency and earn a diploma from their high school of origin. Changes also would allow students age 16 in state correctional or residential facilities to complete the option pathway and earn their high school diploma if a long-term education plan is in place.

The board also approved the format for meetings as required by the passage of House Bill 2940. The legislation passed earlier this year requires all county superintendents of schools and members of county boards belonging to the same Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) meet to identify administrative, coordinating and other county level services and functions that may be shared. The statute directs the West Virginia School Boards Association to conduct these meetings and for the state Board of Education to approve the format of the meetings in advance.

The board also approved school calendars for the Office of Adult Institutional Education Programs and authorized the associate state superintendent to approve minor amendments as needed.

The policies can be viewed on the West Virginia Department of Education website no later than Monday, June 17 at http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies. For more information, contact the Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.

The grants from the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) are part of a project on Examining and Reforming State Disciplinary Policies from a State-Level Perspective. Grants also were awarded to Georgia and Michigan. All three states are working to decrease out-of-school suspensions and expulsions, improve discipline reporting and reduce law enforcement referrals.

The West Virginia Board of Education has worked to strengthen state policy to comprehensively address behavior and safety to create supportive learning conditions. This grant will allow the board to continue to address the issue so that more children remain in school.

West Virginia's task force on student discipline is working on comprehensive statewide and county-level reports of disciplinary incidents and using the information to establish goals to improve school discipline practices. It also is preparing a trend analysis of school climate and culture improvement outcomes from the growing body of data collected across the state

"Many states are starting to consider alternatives to out-of-school punishment of students, especially when it is clear minority groups are disproportionately disciplined in these ways," said NASBE Interim Executive Director Brad Hull. "Research shows us that students who are ejected from school are more likely to drop out and wind up in the criminal justice system. There are no simple solutions here, but when students are not in school, they cannot succeed. And when that happens, we all lose."

NASBE'S school discipline project and the state grants are funded through an agreement with The Atlantic Philanthropies. The grants were awarded on a competitive basis, and all applications were reviewed by an outside review panel.

For more information, contact the WVDE Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.

The state board first adopted the West Virginia Next Generation Content Standards and Objectives in 2010 in English/language arts and math as a part of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Initiative, which establishes consistent and clear education standards. West Virginia educators were part of the original development of the CCSS.

Once adopted in the state, teachers compared the current standards, identified the differences with the CCSS, and made revisions based on West Virginia's framework.

On Thursday, the board voted to seek public comment on proposed updates to Policy 2520.1, 21st Century Reading and English Language Arts Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools to remove outdated second grade standards. The board also voted to update Policy 2520.2, 21st Century Mathematics Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools. The phase-in period is to end in 2014 with grades 3 through 12. Both policies will be on public comment for 30 days.

"We believe that the West Virginia Next Generation Content Standards and Objectives are clear and straightforward," said state Board of Education Vice President Gayle Manchin. "These standards were developed by West Virginia teachers. The standards will equip students with the necessary skills to compete with their peers from across the globe."

The Next Generation Content Standards and Objectives are designed to focus on fewer concepts while stressing deeper learning and understanding. The new standards and assessments will be used to concentrate instruction on developing key strategies and skills that are necessary for student success in the workplace and in college. The standards, which have now been adopted by more than 45 states and the District of Columbia, were developed through a state-led initiative spearheaded by governors and school chiefs.

"The Next Generation Standards will help educators better prepare students for college and career success," said state Superintendent Jim Phares. "These standards establish what West Virginia students need to learn, but do not tell teachers how to teach. Teachers will continue to create lessons and design instruction to best engage students in their classrooms."

For more information, contact the Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.

Policy 5000: Procedures for Designated Hiring and Transfer of School Personnel will be out on public comment for 30 days and will become effective within that same time period.

"Principals and teachers have always been accountable for student achievement but have felt they were restricted in their ability to build a school teaching team," said West Virginia Board of Education Vice President Gayle Manchin. "The new hiring practices policy empowers teachers and gives them a voice for the first time in building this team."

The policy gives schools options related to establishing a Faculty Senate Committee. Teachers on the Faculty Senate teams will be entrusted to review applicants for a position within their learning facility and make a joint recommendation to the principal and county superintendent.

"This is a substantial change in how we hire teachers in West Virginia," said Board Member Lloyd Jackson. "The public should understand that if teachers, in a meaningful process, recommend a candidate to fill a teaching position and the principal and superintendent agree that person will be hired. Teachers know what their students and schools need so why not allow them to participate in hiring decisions."

The policy allows members of the Faculty Senate Committee to determine what teacher qualities and factors are most important for the individual school and students.

For more information, contact Liza Cordeiro in the WVDE Communication Office at 304-558-2699. To comment on Policy 5000, visit http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/ beginning on Friday, June 14.

On Thursday, the state Board of Education learned more about the program for students at risk of dropping out of high school. Until this year, cadets who completed the program only qualified to receive a GED. Now, if they meet all established high school graduation benchmarks, they can receive a high school diploma from their home high schools.

"This is good news for students who took advantage of the second chance Mountaineer ChalleNGe offered to complete their high school education," said state Superintendent Jim Phares. "They acknowledged the mistakes they had made but did not let the behavior define them and now they are ready for the next life challenge."

The board also approved revisions to Policy 2444.4, Issuance of the State of West Virginia General Education Development (GED) Diploma to allow Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy to become an Option Pathway Program. The change will allow students to complete their high school equivalency and earn a diploma from their high school of origin. Changes also would allow students age 16 in state correctional or residential facilities to complete the option pathway and earn their high school diploma if a long-term education plan is in place.

Operated by the West Virginia National Guard, the mission of the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy is to train and mentor selected at-risk students using eight core components in a structured military-style environment. Some students drop out before completing the rigorous program, which focuses on academic excellence, life coping skills, job skills, health and hygiene, responsible citizenship, service to the community, leadership, and physical fitness. The 22-week program for 16- to 18-year-olds is housed at Camp Dawson in Preston County.

For more information, contact the Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.

Hicks will replace Larry Parsons, who is retiring. Parsons was appointed to lead the county in 2009 following a recommendation by the Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA). An OEPA review found serious financial and personnel problems existed in Preston County as well as leadership, facility and curriculum issues.

"Rick, who currently serves as the executive director for the West Virginia Association of School Administrators, was selected for the position because of his experience in rural settings as well as his experience managing a system with limited funds," said state board Vice President Gayle Manchin.

Hicks is an education veteran with 33 years experience, including 25 years in education administration. His experience includes work as a county superintendent, principal, assistant principal, guidance counselor, and English and social studies teacher.

He has a bachelor's and two master's degrees from West Virginia University.

For more information, contact the Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.

Hometown Elementary School in Putnam County, Petersburg Elementary School in Grant County and Marshall County Schools were among 64 schools and 14 districts to receive the national award. The West Virginia schools and district were first named West Virginia Sustainable Schools to be considered for the national honor. The winning schools will be honored in Washington, D.C.

"West Virginia schools are working hard to support healthy school environments and accelerate learning," said state Superintendent of Schools Jim Phares. "These schools deserve this recognition for incorporating sustainability practices into school life."

The national recognition award is part of a larger U.S. Department of Education effort to improve student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and work force preparedness, as well as a government-wide aim to increase energy independence and economic security. Both the federal and state programs recognize schools that exemplify a commitment to sustainable practices in their facilities. They also have worked to integrate those practices into the curriculum and helped build healthy and sustainable communities. All schools must meet rigorous standards in three criteria: environmental and sustainability education; healthy school environments; and environmental impact and energy efficiency of facilities. Educational efforts should incorporate science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), civic skills and green career pathways.

The national award winners were chosen from 82 nominees submitted by 32 state education agencies and the District of Columbia. The list of winners include 40 elementary, 23 middle and 19 high schools with around 40 percent representing high poverty schools.

For more information, contact the WVDE Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Sixty-one West Virginia teachers, who earned National Board Certification for 2012, the highest credential in the teaching profession, were honored Wednesday for their achievement. The new additions increase the number of National Board Certified Teachers in West Virginia schools to nearly 700.

"National Board Certified Teachers have demonstrated they know how to bridge the gap between what students learn today and what they need to know to be successful in college and careers," said state Superintendent Jim Phares. "Teachers who receive the national certification are clearly among America's best. They not only have proven they know their subject matter, but also have provided evidence they know how to effectively teach their subjects to students."

Across the country, 102,237 of the nation's most effective teachers have demonstrated that they meet the highest teaching standards by becoming National Board Certified. In West Virginia, Wood County has the most National Board Certified Teachers with 82, followed by Cabell with 56; Berkeley and Monongalia, 44; and Putnam, 32.

West Virginia's 61 teachers receiving national certification in 2012 are:

Founded in 1987, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization. Its mission is to establish high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers – and make them better.

For more information about NBPTS and National Board Certification, contact Liza Cordeiro in the West Virginia Department of Education's Communication Office at 304-558-2699. Information also is available on the NBPTS website at www.nbpts.org.

Photo Gallery

The SFSP is sponsored by WVDE Office of Child Nutrition and provides funds to county school boards of education and other non-profit organizations to help feed hungry kids every summer. Participating agencies include local boards of education, parks and recreation, colleges and universities, community action agencies, churches and other faith based groups. A full list of locations can be found here: http://wvde.state.wv.us/ocn-download/Forms/SFSP/2013/SFSP_SiteMap2013.pdf

"During the summer, some schoolchildren have limited access to nutritious meals," said West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Jim Phares. "The Summer Food Service Program is designed to fill the nutrition gap and make sure our kids remain healthy and active."

While children have access to school meals throughout the school year as part of the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs, those meals end when school is out for the summer months. An average of 58 percent of West Virginia schoolchildren depend on free and reduced-price meals at school. The Summer Food Service Program ensures that children in lower-income areas continue to receive free, nutritious meals during summer break.

"It is very important to feed children healthy meals because hunger doesn't take a summer vacation," said Jim Harmon with United States Department of Agriculture. "Our partnership with the West Virginia Department of Education, Office of Child Nutrition, allows them to identify agencies, and our office to provide funds for summer feeding sites throughout the state."

The SFSP is the largest federal resource available for local programs that combine mealtime with recreational and educational activities. In 2012, more than 13,000 children were served meals and snacks at schools, churches, pools, parks, housing complexes and summer camps.

For more information on the Summer Food Program contact Gloria Cunningham with the Office of Child Nutrition at (304) 558-3396, or by e-mail gjcunnin@access.k12.wv.us, or the Office of Communication at (304) 558-2699.

The report noted that during the past 10 years West Virginia's graduation rate has increased by 4.5 percent. But other southern states like Tennessee have increased its rate as much as 31 percent and Florida's graduation rate increased by 23 percent.

"While our graduation rate gains are encouraging, much work remains to be done," said West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Jim Phares. "One dropout is one too many. Diplomas Count estimates that more than six thousand West Virginia students will fail to graduate in 2013. We must continue to engage students and find ways to personalize learning so that they want to stay in school and ultimately succeed in college and/or the workplace."

The report found that a greater percentage of African-American students in West Virginia graduate from high school when measured against their counterparts across the nation. The report found that more than 69 percent of African-American students in the state received high school diplomas in 2010, compared to a national graduation rate of about 61 percent for African-American students. However, when compared to white students in the state, African-American students fell behind by more than five percent. Meanwhile, the report also found that while white males in West Virginia graduate at a rate of 71.2 percent, the national graduation rate is 77 percent.

This eighth edition of "Diplomas Count" features a special analysis on the number of dropouts and recoverable youths, which is defined as young adults who are out of school without a completed high school education for the nation and states. In West Virginia, 8.6 percent of 16 to 21 year olds are considered recoverable youths.

Data for "Diplomas Count" is compiled by the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center using the Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) method. This year, "Diplomas Count" provides updated graduation-rate findings for the class of 2010. Results are reported for the United States as a whole, individual states, and the nation's 50 largest school districts.

West Virginia educators, lawmakers and others recognize the importance of improving high school graduation rates. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and the Higher Education Policy Commission have joined forces to sponsor its fourth Student Success Summit for August.  The summit will highlight the preschool through college graduation pipeline and efforts to assist students.

In addition, the WVDE has established an Early Warning System, which creates the ability within the state's student management system to identify students at risk of dropping out of school as early as sixth grade. Principals, counselors and teachers are notified of which students are most at risk and in need of intervention.

The WVDE launched RiseUp, http://wvde.state.wv.us/riseup/, a website dedicated to providing young people with alternatives, suggestions, resources and guidance to stay on the road to successful completion of high school. The WVDE also supports the Option Pathway in which students who complete the requirements of passing the GED® and completion of an approved Career Technical Education program earn their high school diploma. And, for the first time, students who graduate from the Mountaineer ChallENge Academy will walk away with a diploma from their home county instead of a GED.

The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) adopted school counseling standards that focus on creating student supports. The legislature allocated $2.2 million for Dropout Prevention Innovation Zones.  Schools, counties and community partners applied for funds to create innovative local solutions to prevent dropouts in their communities. The board also established the Common Ground Partnership which not only provides career resources and tutoring but also military mentors.

In addition, as part of Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's education reform movement, the WVBE is working to coordinate staff in cross-counseling efforts between public education and community colleges to ensure high school graduates are prepared for a career. This pilot program will provide career awareness and career counseling services to middle school students through a collaborative, public and post-secondary education team.

Also, to meet the governor's challenge of requiring every career center in West Virginia to adopt or develop at least one career pathway that meets Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) standards for Preparation for Tomorrow, the state board and the WVDE have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the SREB to implement High Schools that Work, Technology Schools that Work, advanced career pathways and math design modules.

For the full "Diplomas Count 2013" report, visit www.edweek.org or contact the West Virginia Department of Education Communication Office at (304) 558-2699.

"I offer my congratulations to the principals, teachers, parents and students for their hard work and dedication to helping their school become a School of Excellence," said state Superintendent of Schools Jim Phares. "These schools have shown how to continually exceed the academic bar and they deserve this recognition."

Schools of Excellence are selected based on the following criteria: a rigorous and challenging curriculum; a safe and drug-free learning environment; participatory leadership; active teaching and learning; an environment that strengthens teacher skills; documented student achievement; and implementing advanced and innovated programs.

The 2013-2014 Schools of Excellence are:

Individual school applications were reviewed by a panel to determine where site visits should occur. During the site visits, the schools provided the site visitors with verification and documentation to support a final recommendation for recognition. Schools will be recognized with a reception and banquet on Oct. 9 at the Clay Center in Charleston.

For more information about West Virginia Schools of Excellence, contact Nancy Cline, coordinator for the Office of School Improvement, at 304-558-3199, or nmcline@access.k12.wv.us, or contact Liza Cordeiro in the WVDE Communication Office at 304-558-2699.

"Writing is one of the most important skills for academic and professional success," said West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Jim Phares. "As we prepare students for the 21st century, clear communication through writing is more important than ever."

The annual event is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and Central West Virginia Writing Project, based at Marshall University's South Charleston campus. As a site of the National Writing Project, Central West Virginia Writing Project builds the leadership, programs and research needed for teachers to help their students become successful writers and learners.

First place state winners in each grade level read from their winning entries. The winners are:

The contest is funded through an allocation in the state budget to West Virginia's National Writing Project sites and supported by the WVDE, Marshall University Graduate College of Education and Professional Development, and the University of Charleston. The contest encourages classroom writing and honors first through 12th grade writers in every West Virginia county.

County winners, their teachers and families were invited to attend the celebration, which included talks by state Superintendent Phares and University of Charleston President Ed Welch. Workshops were offered by West Virginia authors Marc Harshman, Sarah Sullivan, Cheryl Ware and Elizabeth Campbell. Ron Sowell, songwriter and music director of West Virginia Public Radio's Mountain Stage, also performed and led a songwriting workshop.

County winners, their teachers and families are invited to attend Young Writers Day from all over the state. More than 600 students, teachers and family members attend the annual event.

For more information, contact Paul Epstein, director of the Central West Virginia Writing Project and West Virginia Young Writers Contest, at 304-746-1947, or the WVDE Office of Communication at 304-558-2699. Also visit www.marshall.edu/cwvwp or www.nwp.org.

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Phares issued the West Virginia Department of Education's Summer Reading and Math Challenge on Tuesday in an effort to help children improve their reading abilities, practice their math skills and keep their academic skills sharp during the summer break.

"Reading well and being able to do basic math are two of the most important skills a child needs to learn," Phares said. "Yet research tells us that when children don't continue to read and do math over the summer, they are likely to lose crucial ground. One summer off can sometimes mean a whole school year of struggling academic performance. We cannot allow that to happen."

One way teachers and parents can help students continue to read and sharpen their math skills over the summer is to help them find books and math problems tailored to their own interests. The West Virginia Department of Education has created a webpage at http://wvde.state.wv.us/summer-challenge. The webpage includes free math and reading resources, including a free online search tool, dubbed Find a Book, West Virginia, https://www.lexile.com/fab/wv. Teachers, parents and older students can use this tool to build custom reading lists based on each individual's interests.

The database also allows students to locate books that best complement each student's reading ability based on Lexile measures. A Lexile measure represents both a child's reading ability and the difficulty of a text, like a book or magazine article.

In addition, the WVDE Learn21 website, www.learn21wv.com, hosts a collection of engaging resources, including reading and math materials, for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The learning tools can be used to aid learning anytime and anywhere an Internet connection is available.

Other summer programs also are available that allow children to earn free books or other prizes when they log their reading. Check out these sites:

Math resources include:

Keeping children reading this summer is part of the West Virginia Department of Education's ongoing efforts to improve student achievement and encourage regular reading in West Virginia schools and homes through Read WV. The campaign is designed to encourage children and the adults in their lives to make reading a priority early in life and to ensure that children read every day.

Phares encourages parents, teachers and students to share their photos and tweets at #ReadWV and at http://wvde.state.wv.us/forms/school-snapshots.

For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (304) 558-2699.

The West Virginia Board of Education and West Virginia Department of Education sought permission from the U.S. Department of Education to free West Virginia public schools from certain federal rules and deadlines so the state may focus more on improving learning and instruction. Those rules fell under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as the No Child Left Behind Act. The waiver allows West Virginia to use its own accountability system to more effectively identify struggling schools and to efficiently direct resources to struggling schools.

"This is an exciting time for education in our state," said Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. "Quality education is the doorway to a vibrant, healthy economic future for our state. The flexibility schools now have will allow them to focus on achievement and improvement so that all students are prepared for college and career success."

The U.S. Department of Education developed the flexibility process in 2011. In exchange for flexibility, states must show detailed plans for preparing all students for college and careers, targeting federal aid to students most in need, and pushing for better evaluation and support of teachers and principals. The state Board of Education submitted its waiver request in September 2012 in collaboration with several education stakeholders, including the West Virginia Governor's Office and teacher organizations.

"With this approval, we believe our schools will have the flexibility they need to increase the quality of instruction and enhance student achievement," said West Virginia Board of Education President Wade Linger. "Our plan gives schools, especially those struggling with low performance, the ability to focus on continual improvement in every classroom and at every programmatic level."

The ESEA Flexibility Waiver provides West Virginia with the flexibility needed to fully implement the Next Generation Content Standards and Objectives. The request also allows for the establishment of a high-quality accountability system that values individual student academic growth, supports schools, and expands the Educator Evaluation System pilot. The request still holds schools accountable for student achievement results but shifts from a large number of schools not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress to a smaller number of schools flagged for targeted support.

As part of the new West Virginia Accountability Index (WVAI) proposed in the ESEA Flexibility Waiver, schools will fall into five rankings: priority, support, focus, transition and success. Schools identified for targeted support will receive resources and support from various entities, districts, Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs), WVDE and others as appropriate.

"While we are excited about the opportunities that gaining flexibility gives our schools, we know the hard work is just beginning," West Virginia Superintendent of School Jim Phares said. "Our goal is to ensure that all West Virginia students graduate from high school truly prepared for college and career success."

For more information, visit http://wvde.state.wv.us/esea/, or contact Liza Cordeiro at the West Virginia Department of Education Communication Office at 304-558-2699.

The program, which is administered through the West Virginia Department of Education, offers cash reimbursements for meals served to children. Some facilities may be eligible to receive USDA donated foods as well.

Children enrolled at childcare centers or other facilities participating in the child and adult care food program receive free meals. The reimbursement rate to providers depends on the number of children eligible for free or reduced price school meals. Participants may be reimbursed for up to three meal types, including breakfast, lunch, snacks, or supper.

Eligible childcare centers are licensed or approved public or private nonprofit facilities. For-profit child care centers also are eligible if they receive compensation under Title XX of the Social Security Act for at least 25 percent of the children enrolled, or if at least 25 percent of the children they serve are eligible for free or reduced price school meals.

Licensed or registered family day care home providers also may participate in the program under the auspices of an approved family day care sponsoring organization.

There are 10 approved sponsors throughout West Virginia. Additionally, homeless shelters providing services for families and after-school programs located in low-income areas also can participate. Program sponsors provide meals at no extra charge to all enrolled participants at each participating facility.

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

To file a complaint alleging discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call, toll free, (866) 632- 9992 (Voice). Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

For more information, contact the Office of Child Nutrition at (304) 558-3396, or the Office of Communication at (304) 558-2699.

Income Guidelines (pdf)

Linger, a high tech entrepreneur, was appointed to the West Virginia Board of Education in 2008 to a nine-year term. Linger is a native of Charleston and current Marion County resident. Trained as a computer programmer while serving in the U.S. Air Force, Linger has spent much of his professional career in the fields of technology and research. Linger is a community leader and volunteer. He served with the Marion County Chamber of Commerce and is a former Boy Scout leader. He also served on the West Virginia University's College of Engineering Advisory Council. Linger received a Bachelor of Arts in Business from St. Leo College, Fla., in 1989.

Gayle Manchin was appointed to the state Board of Education in 2007 to serve a nine-year term ending 2015. She attended West Virginia University, where she attained her bachelor’s degree in language arts and education and a master’s in reading. She also holds a second master’s in educational technology leadership from Salem International University.

Robert Dunlevy was named to the West Virginia Board of Education in November 2005 for a term ending in 2014. A native of Ohio County, Dunlevy holds a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University. In addition to his state board duties, he also serves on the School Building Authority and the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.