By Ryan Quinn, Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The American Rescue Plan Act is providing $739 million to West Virginia county school systems, including $82 million to Kanawha County.
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 [email protected] .wv.us
The plan addresses a litany of pandemic-related academic and mental health issues, including:
- “Significant declines” in yet-unreleased state standardized test scores.
- Particularly large learning gaps in third and fourth grades.
- “All-time high” failing grades, particularly in middle school.
- Attempted suicides.
The county school system said 167 high schoolers and 204 middle schoolers reported “feeling suicidal” during the two weeks preceding a March survey. Kanawha’s total fall enrollment was 24,700…