Cabell County Schools seeks state approval to expand high school speech-forensics credit

The Cabell County Board of Education on Nov. 4 voted to submit proposed course standards to the West Virginia Department of Education to create Forensics 2, 3 and 4, allowing students who participate in speech and debate across multiple years to earn more than the single credit currently transcripted for Forensics 1.

The proposal, presented by a district staff member identified as Mr. Mann, would establish additional course codes and standards so a student could earn up to four credits for continued participation in speech and debate. Mann told the board the district already offers speech and debate programs at both high schools and that “we don’t need additional staff to teach these courses.”

Mann said existing course codes are in use elsewhere — for example for dual credit through Marshall and Mountwest — and that the district developed its own standards for Forensics 2–4. The plan is to submit the standards to the state education department and amend them if the department requests changes.

Board members asked whether events are public performances and Mann explained the typical competitive format: tournaments are usually held on Saturdays with judges scoring student rounds, and the championship rounds draw greater audiences. He said community members sometimes attend those rounds but that much of the activity is judged competition among students.

The board did not discuss staffing additions tied to the proposal; Mann reiterated teachers at Huntington High and Cabell Midland will deliver the standards during scheduled class time. The district’s recommendation is limited to submitting the standards for state review and does not itself change any transcripted credit until state approval is obtained.