Not yet a month out from Joe Biden’s first day in office, the newly inaugurated President has signed 25 executive orders and proposed plans for impactful change across the nation. Lumped into a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, the President has suggested increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.   The Biden administration…

By Garrett Ballengee originally published by West Virginia Executive Magazine as an Executive Exclusive.   Experts say that certificate-of-need (CON) laws are hurting the quality of health care in West Virginia, but there are efforts to eliminate the onerous regulations. CON laws require health care providers to get permission before expanding or offering new services.…

One of the top concerns for everyone is equity in education. On paper we have done a good job, investing near average for the nation per capita despite having a historically low GDP. But beyond budgetary reports, how equitable is our education system? The Current System West Virginia’s model works well for the rich; they…

“I am a speech language pathologist here in the northern panhandle of West Virginia and I specialize in dyslexia. I have a private practice where I work with both children and adults, on diagnosis and then point them in the right direction for tutoring – whether that's with me or programs that are designed for parents…

"My husband and I moved to West Virginia about four years ago. We have three children and expecting our fourth in the next month. Our oldest just turned five and he’s getting ready to enter kindergarten.”   “As we prepare for that, my husband and I have started to explore the educational options that are…

This op-ed was originally published in The Register~Herald on January 27th, 2021. You can read the original article here.   Traditional high schools aren’t for everyone. People like to learn different things in different ways. That’s why vocational and technical schools can be so attractive for many young adults. In Beckley, for instance, The Academy…

Education Reimagined: The Journey of West Virginia is a 9-minute short documentary by Dignity Unbound that tells the story of how West Virginia’s education system went from failing its students to helping them thrive, thanks in part to the innovative solutions championed by the Cardinal Institute of West Virginia Policy. https://youtu.be/b6REH80F-lw

Lots of kids would thrive in career or technical education (CTE) but are currently in schools that do not meet their needs. Many of these students are fortunate to have free public options available. That’s not true everywhere, but Education Savings Accounts (ESAs, known as Hope Scholarships) can make such opportunities affordable across the state.…

Tomorrow, the West Virginia State Legislature gavels in to begin its 85th session. On the agenda are promises of bold ideas for reform – encouraging a better future for generations of West Virginians to come.   Very few see promise within West Virginia's hills, but for mountaineers full of courage there is nothing but. The…

For many, January marks the anxious start to tax season and reminds us how much the government takes from our paychecks every year. But what if there was a way to keep more money in your pocket?   After the November general election, Governor Justice announced that his top priority is to eliminate the state…