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W.Va. Lawmakers Forward Bill Despite Teachers’ Concerns
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – A West Virginia Senate committee has forwarded a draft bill to revamp the state’s education system.
The Republican-led Senate Education Committee voted 7-5 along party lines Friday to send the draft to the Senate Finance Committee. Two committee members were absent.
At the end of the five-hour hearing, some Democrats said more time was needed to examine the 138-page legislation.
The bill includes additional raises for teachers but also other provisions that left their unions frustrated.
Among other things, the bill would increase elementary school class sizes, establish savings accounts for families to pay for private school and require teachers to sign off annually on union dues. Much of it deals with establishing public charter schools.