“Crossover Day” was this week, on Wednesday, February 28, the 50th day of the session, where all House bills must clear the House and Senate bills must clear the Senate—except for the budget bill. After Wednesday, there are approximately 60 remaining bills we are tracking on our Bill Tracking Sheet.

Regarding the budget, on Thursday, lawmakers discussed the potential for a special session after learning of a potential federal “clawback” of $465M COVID education funds. Read More here.

House Considers Senate Education Bills

• SB 468 - Requiring course in public schools on human development. The bill makes the showing of a video on human development mandatory in health for 8th grade with a refresher course in the 10th grade. The bill would create the “Baby Olivia Act,” which includes the video “Meet Baby Olivia,” produced by Live Action. The Committee substitute passed and was sent to the Senate floor, where it is on the second reading. To read more, click here.
• SB 813 - Allowing students to participate in non-school competitive activities (also known as “Travel Ball” bill) the purpose of this bill is to allow student-athletes to participate in competitive events and activities while playing for their school. While participation in school sponsored extracurricular sports is a voluntary opportunity, no student-athlete should be deprived of additional opportunities to advance or showcase their skills purely because they are playing for a school sports team. The bill was adopted by the Senate 24 to 9 and sent to the House. Read more here.
• SB 162 - Establishing Summer Feeding for All Program - This bill would address food insecurities; empower county school boards to develop initiatives and programs for feeding students in need during summer and other non-school time periods; providing county board reporting requirements to the Office of Child Nutrition; and directing the Office of Child Nutrition to collect and distribute information regarding available food resources. This bill passed the Senate and was introduced in House Education with recommendation due pass but first to House Finance.
• SB 861 Increasing support and professional development for educators expanding factors used to determine how funds for supporting county-level implementation of the comprehensive systems for teacher and leader induction and professional growth are allocated to counties; authorizing retention of additional funding for 2024 – 2025 school year by Department of Education to distribute to the county boards for contracting with organizations that facilitate the school districts’ participation in regional professional learning cadres, or teacher leadership networks to support math and science improvement; requiring certain amount of funds be retained beginning with 2025 – 2026 school year to distribute to the county boards for the purpose of expanding the school districts’ ability to contract with organizations that facilitate the school districts’ participation in regional professional learning cadres, or teacher leadership networks. The bill was adopted by the Senate and sent to the House.
• SB 292 - Hunger-Free Campus Act - This bill provides qualifications for a campus to be designated as hunger-free campus; requiring, subject to the availability of funding, Chancellor of the Higher Education Policy Commission to allocate grant funding to each institution designated as a hunger-free campus; and requiring a report to the Governor and Legislature no later than two years after the establishment of the program. This bill passed the Senate and was introduced in House Education with recommendation due pass and is on the 1st reading of the Special Calendar. To read more, click here.
• SB 529 - Including Salem University in PROMISE Scholarship program - This bill aims to add Salem University as an “Eligible institution” to offer the scholarship if it meets certain conditions. This bill passed the Senate and was introduced in the House and is on the 2nd reading of the Special Calendar.
• SB 727 - Revising process for county board of education to hire support staff - The amended bill changes how county boards of education hire aides and early childhood classroom assistant teachers. This bill passed the Senate and was introduced in the House and resides in House Education Committee.

Other Bills Considered by House Education

SB 146 - Creating adult education taskforce - This bill requires the State Superintendent of Schools to create a task force to consider options for direct funding of adult education learning centers and submit a report of recommendations to the Legislature.

SB 189 - Providing for substantial deference to state school superintendent’s interpretations of school laws - This bill requires entities and parties to uphold and apply the Superintendent of Schools’ interpretation of school law and State Board of Education rules.

SB 466 - Requiring State Board of Education develop Safety While Accessing Technology education program - The West Virginia Board of Education is tasked with developing the Safety While Accessing Technology (SWAT) education program. The program will cover specific topics and provide age-appropriate instructional materials for county boards to implement in elementary and secondary schools. The program will be implemented for the 2025-2026 school year and must be based on certain concepts.

SB 614 - Relating to elementary behavior intervention and safety - This amended bill focuses on elementary behavior intervention and safety. It ensures that it does not conflict with specific federal laws and outlines requirements for kindergarten through sixth-grade teachers when addressing violent, threatening, or intimidating behavior from students. The bill emphasizes creating a safe learning environment for all students while addressing disruptive behavior.

SB 487 - Requiring periodic review of professional development for teachers and education staff - This bill addresses teacher preparation programs; program approval and standards; and the authority to issue teaching certificates.

Senate Considers House Education Bills

• HB 5105 - To eliminate the vaccine requirements for public virtual schools. This bill aims to eliminate the vaccine requirements for students of public virtual schools, private schools, and parochial schools unless the student participates in sanctioned athletic events. This bill passed the House and was communicated to the Senate. Read more click here
• HB 4814 - Relating to extending the reporting and sunset dates of the State Advisory Council on Postsecondary Attainment Goals - The bill aims to ensure that students have access to relevant industry-demanded knowledge, skills, and credentials to prepare them for college, careers, and life. It promotes collaboration between K-12 education leaders, employers, industry leaders, state agencies, Higher Education Policy Commission, and the Council for Community and Technical College Education to identify valuable postsecondary credentials and develop a plan to help West Virginia achieve its goal of having 60% of residents aged 25-64 hold a degree, certificate, or other valuable credential by 2030, thus fostering economic growth. This bill passed the House and was introduced in the Senate. It was recommended due pass and it currently is in its 3rd reading.
• HB 4838 - Require county board of education to provide long-term substitute teachers, upon hiring, with certain information - The purpose of this bill is to require county boards of education to inform persons, who are employed as a long-term substitute teacher, about completing IEP and 504 plans. This bill passed the House, was communicated to the Senate. It was recommended due pass in Senate Education and is on the 3rd reading.
• HB 4883 - Relating to increasing annual salaries of certain employees of the state. This bill’s purpose is to increase annual salaries of public school teachers and school service personnel; and providing an effective date for these increases. The bill passed the House and was introduced to Senate. To read more click here.
• HB 4951 - To facilitate the interstate practice of School Psychology in educational or school settings - The purpose of this bill is to enact the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists to improve the availability of School Psychological Services to the public. This Compact is intended to establish a pathway to allow School Psychologists to obtain equivalent licenses to provide School Psychological Services in any Member State. This Compact shall enable the Member States to ensure safe and effective School Psychological Services are available and delivered by appropriately qualified professionals in their educational settings. This bill passed the House, was communicated to the Senate. It passed out of Senate Education and currently resides in Senate Judiciary.
• HB 5650 - Allow suspended school personnel to enter school property functions open to the public. This bill passed the House and was introduced in the Senate. It currently sits in Senate Education.
• HB 4830 - To address the professional development of teachers. This bill passed the House on January 31st, and was introduced to the Senate, where it sits in Senate Education.
• HB 4986 - Relating to computer science and cybersecurity instruction for adult learners. This bill passed the House on February 13 and was introduced to the Senate where it sits in Senate Education.