5.1. If any provision of this rule or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this rule.

Introduction

West Virginia's College- and Career-Readiness Standard (hereinafter WVCCR) have been developed with the goal of preparing students for a wide range of high-quality post-secondary opportunities. Specifically, college- and career-readiness refers to the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to be successful in higher education and/or training that lead to gainful employment. The WVCCR establish a set of knowledge and skills that all individuals need to transition into higher education or into the workplace, as both realms share many expectations. All students throughout their educational experience, should develop a full understanding of the career opportunities available, the education necessary to be successful in their chosen pathway, and a plan to attain their goals.

West Virginia educators provided input to the development of the West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Dispositions and Standard for Student Success (WVCCRDSSS). They played a key role in shaping the content Standard to ensure the WVCCRDSSS complement the core subjects being taught in West Virginia schools and have been identify by research and multiple entities including workforce and post-secondary leaders, WVBE, and school staff as essential for the success of every student.

Per WVBE Policy 2510, the WVCCRDSSS describe the attitudes, knowledge, skills, and dispositions all students shall develop in relation to personal and social development; career and life planning; and global citizenship. The WVCCRDSSS are critical to the holistic development of all students and require integration into all aspects of each student's educational experience utilizing a variety of delivery modalities. The WVCCRDSSS are foundational Standard for all students, and serve as primary Standard for middle and high school teacher led, student advisory systems in West Virginia schools.

(a) The state board shall establish a comprehensive approach to integrate character education into all aspects of school culture, school functions and existing curriculum.

(b) The state board shall require all public schools that operate from preschool to grade twelve to develop and integrate components of character development into their existing curriculum. The schools may incorporate such programs as “life skills”, “responsible students”, or any other program encompassing any of the following components:

• (1) Honesty;
• (2) Caring;
• (3) Citizenship;
• (4) Justice;
• (5) Fairness;
• (6) Respect;
• (7) Responsibility;
• (8) Voting;
• (9) Academic achievement;
• (10) Completing homework assignments;
• (11) Improving daily attendance;
• (12) Avoiding and resolving conflicts;
• (13) Alternatives to violence;
• (14) Contributing to an orderly positive school environment;
• (15) Participating in class;
• (16) Resisting social peer pressures to smoke, drink and use drugs;
• (17) Developing greater self-esteem and self-confidence;
• (18) Effectively coping with social anxiety;
• (19) Increasing knowledge of the immediate consequences of substance abuse;
• (20) Increasing knowledge of the consequences of ones actions;
• (21) The corrupting influence and chance nature of gambling; and
• (22) The value of decent, honest work.

(c) Character education shall be integrated into each public school curriculum by September 1, 2001.

(d) The state board shall assist county boards in developing in-service training regarding integrated character education as provided in this section.

(e) The State Department of Education is encouraged to utilize any existing moneys available to the department for existing character development programs, along with any new funds appropriated for the purposes of this section, to secure the maximum amount of any federal funding available for which the state department is eligible to receive for implementing character development in the schools.