By Erin Beck In Around West Virginia: the state is improving children's literacy, Fayette County considers banning fracking waste, coal severance taxes are down, and more. n West Virginia is one of the top five states in the country excelling at improving children's literacy, according to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. A study by New America's Education Policy Program lauded the state's birth through third-grade literacy improvement policy, particularly because of strong pre-K programs.