CHARLESTON -- Governor Joe Manchin Thursday hosted an education summit at the University of Charleston. The governor stressed the need to prepare West Virginia students to be globally competitive. "How do we prepare the youth of today in West Virginia, that's coming up through our education system, to have the skill sets that will be needed to compete worldwide", Said Manchin, "that's really what it's all about".

Some education reformers believe charter schools would help accomplish that goal. Such schools could be run by individuals or groups using taxpayer money. However, the state's teachers unions are afraid charter schools would take resources from traditional schools. West Virginia Federation of Teachers President Judy Hale voiced her disapproval."They seem to have the idea that you can't move forward unless you have a new school, as opposed to reforming existing schools. So, that's something we're going to have to look carefully at," said Hale.

First Lady Gayle Manchin, who co-chaired the summit at U-C, has said the legislature will need to consider charter schools if it wants to compete for federal funds aimed at improving schools.