Transferring administration of Advanced Career Education (ACE) classes and programs from county boards of education to community and technical colleges.
HB3452 would shift administration of Advanced Career Education (ACE) classes and programs from county boards of education to the community and technical college system. The bill requires that, between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, ACE courses and programs currently run by county boards be transferred to the community and technical college in each consortium service district, with the exact transfer date set by mutual agreement but no later than July 1, 2026. It also adds a new code section to govern the transfer process and repeals conflicting county-board administration language.
The bill sets out detailed requirements for memoranda of agreement between county boards and community and technical colleges covering facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel, compensation, leave, retirement, and notice to employees. It directs the Chancellor for Community and Technical College Education to issue guidelines and technical assistance, and it provides a dispute-resolution process if the parties cannot agree. The bill also updates related education code provisions affecting how ACE and certain other career-oriented programs are treated for funding, enrollment, and graduation-rate purposes.
HB3452 would materially change West Virginia law by moving statutory authority for ACE programs from county boards of education to community and technical colleges and by repealing conflicting county-board provisions. It would affect county boards, community and technical colleges, ACE students, and employees whose positions are transferred, while also implicating school funding, attendance, and graduation calculations under the public school support statutes. The bill further addresses retirement options, leave transfer, facility use, and equipment ownership, creating a framework for the transition of programs and staff from K-12 administration into higher education governance.
The bill appears to have a generally supportive or reform-oriented tone based on its structure and sponsorship, with no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials showing opposition or debate. The text emphasizes continuity of services, student access, and orderly transition, suggesting an intent to preserve programs while changing administrative control. Because no votes or hearing comments are included, the public or legislative sentiment cannot be measured beyond the bill’s affirmative framing.
The main points of potential contention are the transfer of control away from county boards, the handling of personnel and retirement benefits, and the ownership and use of facilities and equipment. County boards may be concerned about losing administrative authority and about costs tied to utilities, maintenance, leave payouts, and employee transitions, while community and technical colleges may be concerned about taking on operational responsibility and liabilities. The bill tries to reduce conflict by requiring mutual agreements, limiting facility charges to actual costs, preserving certain employee retirement choices, and assigning dispute resolution to the State Superintendent and the Chancellor.