Foreword West Virginia faces a pivotal moment as we begin to emerge and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. While the pandemic brought many of its own unique challenges that have been addressed by prompt local, state, and government action, an important takeaway that was highlighted during the pandemic was that there are also…
Federal student loan debt has more than tripled since 2007, jumping from $516 billion in 2007 to nearly $1.6 trillion in March 2021. West Virginia borrowers hold $6.5 billion of that debt. The freeze on student loan payments and the temporary zero percent interest rate have been a relief to borrowers since implemented in March…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - The American Rescue Plan Act is providing $739 million to West Virginia county school systems, including $82 million to Kanawha County. Read the full article. Through 4 p.m. Friday, the Kanawha school system is inviting public comment on its plan to spend that money. Comments may be emailed to comment@mail.kana.k12 .wv.us The plan addresses a litany…
This blog post was written by the WVCBP's summer research associate, Tamicah Owens. The closing of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, while necessary, created a myriad of issues for learners and parents. Teachers and schools in some areas were able to quickly transition to virtual schooling for students. However, some student populations suffered higher levels of academic losses…
West Virginia MetroNews - West Virginia’s senators are assessing the price tag and policies of the “American Families Plan” introduced by President Joe Biden last week. Read the full article. Biden introduced the $1.8 trillion education and social safety net plan in a joint address to Congress last week by saying, “we also need to make a…
For Immediate Release: April 28, 2021Contact: Renee Alves, 559-916-5939 Charleston, WV – The President’s announcement of the American Families Plan today, along with his American Jobs Plan, puts us one step closer to seizing the historic opportunity to build a stronger recovery and a more equitable economy. We call on West Virginia’s congressional delegation to move swiftly to…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - I was trying to find a word that sums up the 2021 legislative session, and after much consideration, it came to me: Despicable. Read the full article. Despicable, in that the Legislature committed acts of cruelty for no reason but the sheer pleasure they derived from doing so. They passed a despicable…
Martinsburg Journal, Parkersburg News and Sentinel - West Virginia is now the seventh state in the nation to offer an education savings account program. Read the full article. Gov. Jim Justice has signed the Hope Scholarship bill. The Legislature received a letter Monday from Justice announcing the signing of several bills Saturday, including House Bill…
West Virginia MetroNews - Both houses of the Legislature have passed a bill that would divert dollars for students leaving public schools for private school or homeschooling. Read the full article. And the governor let go into law without his signature a bill clarifying that strikes against the state by public employees including educators are unlawful. The…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - I’ve been following the governor and Legislature’s 2021 mind-numbing attempts to force West Virginia’s laws and constitution to waste money, crush public education, poison our water and generally make life more difficult for those already suffering from poverty and systemic racism. Read the full letter to the editor. I couldn’t agree more…
