The Legislature finds:
(1) That high-quality professional development is critical in supporting improved practice, assuring teacher quality and raising student achievement;
(2) That professional development is vital in the state’s overall school improvement efforts;
(3) That the state board shall assure the efficient delivery of high-quality professional development programs and that the duplication of efforts be minimized;
(4) That the state board shall assure all stakeholders are appropriately involved in the planning and implementing of programs to meet requisite needs and that high-quality professional development programs be provided to public school educators of West Virginia in the most efficient and cost effective manner;
(5) That continuous improvement is the on-going process of planning, determining, implementing, and refining efforts to improve student performance and well-being. It is the collective staff process of analyzing student performance data, studying current school and classroom practices, determining root causes, researching solutions, and implementing processes outlined in the school’s strategic plan; and
(6) That the capacity for excellence resides in every school. Schools are responsible for creating school-wide and classroom conditions that produce student success. Every school needs quality leadership and the flexibility and support to make the decisions that will lead to the achievement of all students.