07 Jan 12 From the Herald-Dispatch/Associated Press: Education audit urges dozens of changes

January 06, 2012 @ 08:30 PM

The Associated Press (http://www.herald-dispatch.com/x1384915826/Gov-releases-sweeping-review-of-education-system)

CHARLESTON — A sweeping review of West Virginia’s public schools released Friday offers scores of recommendations that its authors say can improve lagging student performance and save about $70 million a year statewide.

From a voluntary merit pay system for teachers and reduced workloads for new educators, to seizing on distance-learning technology and penalizing counties that fail to provide at least 180 days of instruction annually, the audit scrutinizes the state’s education system from practically every angle.

“The main thrust of this review is to make the West Virginia educational system more efficient, from top to bottom, so that tax dollars can be better spent educating our children,” the report from the consulting firms Public Works LLC and MGT said. (more…)