West Virginia Senate Bill 303, better known as the Students’ Right-to-Know Act, was first introduced on January 10, 2020. It officially went into effect on January 1, 2021. This is an information act that ensures public schools share specific vital information to seniors preparing to graduate.
When a student in West Virginia reaches their senior year of high school, it is generally accepted that they will begin applying to colleges or vocational schools. However, there is certain information that rarely, if ever comes up during college prep season. The same is true for any student considering foregoing college altogether.
According to the WV Legislature website, the information that will now be provided to all graduating seniors includes the most in-demand jobs within the state. This must be accompanied by the education level required for each job as well as the starting salary. Students will also have information on the average starting salaries of both graduates of all major colleges and vocational schools in West Virginia.
Schools will also have information on the average cost of attending all major colleges and vocational schools within the state. They will also have access to the average amount of a monthly student loan payment to the same schools.
This is only the beginning of the information that will now be provided to students. Also included will be the average graduation rate for the same schools, both traditional and vocational. Other information includes the number of college graduates working in an occupation that does not require a degree and the completion rates for apprenticeships, career and technical education programs, high school credential programs and military first-term enlistment.
All of this information will be gathered by the State Board of Education and then distributed to all state public high schools. School guidance counselors must get the information to students no later than October 15 of every year.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.