Week of February 16, 2026

This week legislators debated proposed changes to the West Virginia Hope Scholarship. Bills including SB 600, HB 4961, and HB 5124  would revise eligibility, add income limits, and introduce in-state requirements as policymakers reassess the program’s long-term structure and impact.

The debate comes amid a Monday press release from West Virginia Board of Education President Paul Hardesty, who said the public education system is at a “crossroads,” citing long-standing structural challenges and urging a comprehensive, collaborative approach to strengthening schools serving more than 234,000 students.

Together, these developments underscore a pivotal moment as policymakers weigh how best to balance innovation, accountability, and stability across West Virginia’s education landscape. Click here to read more from President Hardesty.  To read more about the Hope Scholarship, click here.

 

Senate

• SB 890 - Changing certain school calendar requirements from days or months to hours. This bill was introduced in the Senate, the Education Committee reported a substitute, and it is on the 1st reading. Click here to read more.
  
  
• SB 899 - Permitting certain teachers to be certified to work as school principals. This bill was introduced in the Senate, the Education Committee reported a substitute, and it is on the 1st reading.
• HB 4002 - Establishing the West Virginia Collaboratory. This bill passed the House on the 3rd reading and was communicated to the Senate. It resides in the Senate Education Committee.

House

 

• HB 5053  - Institute safeguards to verify educational quality for homeschooled students, particularly concerning core subjects and manufactured grades. The bill would have established a 90-day time limit during which a family involved in an active truancy or pre-petition process couldn’t withdraw a student for homeschooling. The House’s Public Education Subcommittee didn’t advance the measure to the full House floor for a vote. Click here to read more.
  
  
• HB 4485 - Allow education employees to donate sick leave to co-workers for maternity leave. This bill is before the House Education Committee for markup.
• HB 4798 - Requiring teachers to wear a “mobile alert button” for emergency situations, to be known as “Alyssa’s Law.” This bill is before the House Education Committee for markup.
• HB 5412 - Future Ready Education Act. The purpose of this bill is to establish the Future-Ready Education Act, to enable local boards of education to enter into long-term contracts for textbooks that result in fiscal savings, to require educators to be trained in the science of reading, and to provide funding for science of reading training. This bill was introduced in the House and is before the House Education Committee for markup.
• HB 5438 - To modify the foundation allowance to improve instructional programs. This bill would provide funding to support the full implementation of the Third Grade Success Act and to improve instructional programs, instructional technology, and teacher and leader induction and professional growth for projects identified in the Safe Schools Fund.
• HB 5478 -  Establish a statewide pilot program to improve kindergarten readiness. This bill would provide preloaded early-learning touchpads to eligible preschool-aged children, assign program administration, and require evaluation. The bill was introduced inthe House and resides in the House Education Committee before moving to the Finance Committee.
• HB 5453 - To modify the school aid funding formula. The bill includes revising base funding based on a minimum number of enrolled students and provides supplemental funding for students with special needs. The bill was introduced in the House, referred to the House Education Committee for markup, and, by a substitute, do pass, but first to the House Finance Committee.
• HB 4402 - Relating to school protection officers. The purpose of this bill is to authorize the appointment, qualifications, certification, authority, compensation, and training of school protection officers by a sheriff, and to provide for limitations on the civil liability of school protection officers in certain circumstances. The bill was introduced in the House, referred to the House Education Comittee then the House Public Education Committee.  It was in Markup Discussion and returned to the House Education Committee.

Week of February 9, 2026

We are halfway through the West Virginia legislative session. More than 1,300 bills have been introduced across both chambers this year. The legislative session's final date is March 14, and the deadline to submit any new bill is Feb. 17. On Wednesday at a press conference, Governor Morrisey announced the appointment of the new state Board Member, Dr. James Paul, who is currently the director of the America First Policy Institute, and previously served as executive director of the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board. The Governor called for accountability reforms. Read more.

Senate

• SB 437 – Fair State Aid Formula Act of 2026. The bill provides an equitable method of distributing state aid to county boards of education. The bill recognizes the additional costs associated with rural, small, and high-need schools. Finally, the bill promotes fairness, transparency, and adequacy in education funding. The bill was introduced in the Senate and resides in the Senate Education Committee. Read more. 
  
• SB 758 - Providing extra state aid to school districts for students enrolled in certain schools. The purpose of this bill is to define a reasonable route, provide extra state aid to school districts for students enrolled in extremely remote schools, and prohibit a county board from closing an extremely remote school. The bill was introduced in the Senate and resides in the Senate Education Committee, and then to Finance. Read more.
  
  
• SB 801 - Increasing each school district's basic foundation program. The Senate Education Committee recommended Senate Bill 801, increasing each school district's basic foundation program for passage. The bill's next stop is the Senate Finance Committee. Read more and more here.

• SB 778 - Relating to eligibility for homebound services for exceptional children. The purpose of this bill is to remove a significant barrier for families by ensuring that students receive timely educational support through allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as well as physicians, to certify eligibility for homebound services. The bill was introduced in the Senate and resides in the Senate Education Committee.

House

• HB 4759 - Modifying the rules for transferring students. The bill was introduced in the House Education Committee and moved to markup discussion. Read more.
  
  
• HB 4834 - To permit women’s wrestling in public high schools as a sanctioned event. The bill was introduced in the House, then moved to the House Education Committee, then to the House Public Education Committee. Read more.
  
  
• HB 4395 - All investigations into allegations of child safety violations and child welfare risks continue for all school personnel, regardless of whether the accused moved to a different job or school. This pertains to schools and school boards. The bill was introduced in the House, moved to the House Education then to the House Public Education Committee, where it is in markup discussion.
  
  
• HB 4798 - Requiring teachers to wear a “mobile alert button” for emergency situations, to be known as “Alyssa’s Law.” The bill was introduced in the House Education Committee and moved to the House Public Education Committee before moving to Finance.
  
• HB 4817 - Relating to modifying the Charter Schools Startup Fund. This bill updates the state’s Charter Schools Startup Fund by changing its name, revising how schools apply for funding, and requiring applications to go through the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board. It has been introduced in the House and is currently in the House Education Committee before moving to the Finance Committee.
  
• HB 4995 - Require the use of video camerasin certain special education classrooms. The purpose of this bill is to provide for the creation of "Oscar's Law." The bill addresses video cameras within special education classrooms. The bill provides protections for nonverbal and autistic children. The bill was introduced in the House, resides in the House Education Committee before moving to the Judiciary Committee.

Week of February 2, 2026

This week, the legislature continued its focus on education finance and the costs of rising special education enrollment, particularly for high-need students who require nurses, one-on-one aides, and other supports.

Senate

• SB 694 - Removing county residency requirement for county superintendent of schools. The bill was introduced in the Senate, the Education Committee substitute reported, and the bill is currently on 2nd reading. To read more, click here.
• SB 176 - Increasing non-traditional instruction days for WV teachers from five to 10 number of days, allows a county board to deliver instruction through alternative methods when schools are closed due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances and those days be considered instructional days, subject to approval of its plan by the state board; The bill was introduced in the Senate and moved to the Education Committee. Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance.
• SB 633 - The purpose of this bill relates to the West Virginia Commission on Holocaust Education. The bill modernizes commission membership in light of the passing of Holocaust survivors and second-generation witnesses. The bill strengthens safeguards for historical accuracy and mission integrity and ensures that Holocaust education remains the commission's primary purpose. The bill was introduced in the Senate and resides in the Senate Education Committee.
• SB 216 - Restoring Private Schools Act of 2026 - This bill would provide autonomous entities free of governmental oversight of instruction to private, parochial, or church schools that may implement such measures for instruction and assessment of pupils as leadership of such schools may deem appropriate. The bill was introduced in the Senate and moved to the Committee on School Choice. To read more, click here.
• SB 232 - Establishing WV Secondary School Athletic Trainer and Career Technical Education Program Act. The bill was introduced in the Senate, the Education Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance.

House

• HB 4957 - Reducing School Days from 180 to 160. This bill would reduce the required instructional year while maintaining the same amount of instructional time. The bill was introduced in the House and resides in the House Education Committee.
• HB 4485 - Allow education employees to donate sick leave to co-workers for maternity leave. The bill introduced in the House was referred to the House Education Committee and the House Public Education Committee for markup discussion. To read more, click here.
• HB 4395 - The bill requires all investigations into allegations of child safety violations and child welfare risks continue for all school personnel, regardless of whether the accused moved to a different job or school. The bill was introduced in the House and moved to the House Education and House Public Education Committee.
• HB 4065 - Relating to the membership of the Hope Scholarship Board. The bill was introduced in the House, moved to the House Education Committee, and resides in the House Educational Choice Committee.
• HB 4946 - Four-Day School Week Pilot Program. This bill would allow the State Board of Education to approve a two-year county pilot program allowing school districts to shift from a traditional five-day week to a four-day school week. The bill was introduced in the House and resides in House Education Committee. Click to read more on this media link.

Week of January 26, 2026

As the West Virginia Legislature entered its second full week of session, lawmakers intensified their focus on key education issues, with significant discussion of finance-related issues occurring in both the House and Senate. Although HB 4574 and HB 4575 previously passed the House quickly, the Senate Education Committee asked questions about HB 4574 but took no action, as lawmakers are taking a closer look now that the state has assumed control of Hancock County Schools and the immediate crisis has been stabilized. Click to read more on this media link. During a House Findings Report, Lawmakers were advised to cap the HOPE scholarship. Click to read more on this media link. 

 

Senate

• SB 155 - Relating to adjunct teaching permits. The legislation creates an adjunct teaching permit that allows qualified individuals to teach when no fully certified teacher in the subject area is available. Adjunct teachers may be hired part-time or full-time, paid as agreed by the county board, work under a contract with a mentor, complete required training, and teach only in areas aligned with their experience, excluding special education. The committee discussed the difference between provisions for substitute teachers – and Committee Chair Amy Grady explained the key difference being the “adjunct” position would allow county boards of education to hire qualified industry professionals such as engineers to fill a vacancy in one class without the same full-day requirements for substitutes. Council noted that this bill previously passed the Senate in 2025 (as SB911). The bill passed out of committee and was recommended for passage in the Senate. This bill is a Policy Priority of the Education Alliance. 
• SB 196 - Relating generally to liability insurance coverage for the board of education. The purpose of this bill is to change the minimum amount of insurance that county boards of education must maintain- and applies, among other things, to instances where school property is used for a community activity. The committee substitute passed and the bill now goes to Finance with no fiscal note.  This bill is a Policy Priority of the Education Alliance. 
• SB 11 - Allowing certain Teachers Retirement System members to exchange unused leave for monetary compensation. The purpose of this bill is to reduce educator absenteeism by offering a cash bonus for unused personal leave. This bill passed in the Senate last session as SB37. The committee voted the bill do pass with original double committee reference and now heads to the Finance Committee.
• SB 516 - Increasing state minimum salary for teachers. The purpose of this bill is to establish a minimum salary of $50,000 for teachers and provide at least a $2,000 salary increase for all teachers; and provide a minimum salary increase of $1,200 for teachers providing math instruction and special education services. Several members of the committee raised questions regarding the fiscal implications of the bill. The decision of the Committee Chair was not to take action until details of the fiscal note are received.
• SB 102 - This bill establishes the Summer Feeding for All Program. The bill was introduced in the Senate and moved to the Education Committee. It was reported do pass, but first to the Senate Finance Committee.
• SB 388 - Requiring public elementary or secondary school make the Aitken Bible available to certain classrooms. This bill was introduced in the Senate, passed the Senate Education Committee on the third reading, and was communicated to the House. Click to read more on this media link.

House

• HB 4119 - This bill establishes the West Virginia TEACH Scholarship Program. It will provide last-dollar-in funding for early childhood education degrees for childcare workers. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Higher Education Committee; it is at Markup Discussion.
• HB 4656 - Relating to chronic absenteeism. The purpose of this bill is to remove truancy as a status offense, shift the absenteeism from punitive to preventative, and clarify the statutory provisions and procedures for chronic absenteeism. The bill was referred to the House Education Committee for markup discussion. Do pass, but first to House Judiciary.
• HB 4660 - To move any remaining sixth-grade classifications from elementary schools to middle schools. The bill states that, effective for the 2026/2027 school year, all sixth-grade students shall be reclassified and moved from elementary school to middle school. Any teacher reclassification will be included. The bill was referred to the House Education Committee for markup discussion.
• HB 4014 - Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Act. The purpose of this bill is all related to the Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Initiatives Act including by establishing the West Virginia Micro-Credential Program, expanding the apprenticeship training tax credit, allowing for independent contractors to have portable benefits which hiring parties can contribute to without altering the nature of the relationship, providing for tax treatment of portable benefits, and eliminating barriers to professional licensures for military trained applicants. This bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Education Committee for markup discussion.  By substitute, do pass, but first to House Finance.

Week of January 19, 2026

This week, the House of Delegates moved quickly to pass bills aimed at helping Hancock County Schools make payroll by creating an emergency school fund and approving an $8 million loan. The bills are now on hold in the Senate, where lawmakers said teacher and staff paychecks are secure for now and warned that the Legislature needs a broader, long-term plan to address financial problems facing school districts across the state. The delay has sparked frustration from some senators who represent Hancock County, while others say the focus should be on accountability and preventing similar crises in the future. Click to read more in this media link.

 

House

HB 4575 - This bill provides for making a Supplemental Appropriation to the State Board of Education. The bill passed the House, was introduced in the Senate, and was referred to the Finance Committee.

 

HB 4574 - To provide for condition-based emergency funding for financially distressed counties; establishing the fund that shall continue in existence for use by the State Board in the event the Legislature appropriates funds to meet other temporary county board shortfalls of funding. The bill passed the House and was introduced to the Senate. The bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee, then to the Finance Committee. Click to read more in this media link.

 

HB 4087 - To create a West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance. The bill was introduced in the House and moved to the House Education Committee.  With Markup Discussion, and by substitute, the bill do pass but first to Finance. 

 

HB 4014 - The purpose of this bill is all related to the Workforce Readiness and Opportunity Initiatives Act including by establishing the West Virginia Micro-Credential Program, expanding the apprenticeship training tax credit, allowing for independent contractors to have portable benefits which hiring parties can contribute to without altering the nature of the relationship, providing for tax treatment of portable benefits, and eliminating barriers to professional licensures for military trained applicants. The bill was introduced in the House and resides in the House Education Markup Discussion.

 

HB 4422 - To permit students in eighth and ninth grade to attend summer school. This bill addresses the academic eligibility requirements for student participation in fall athletic sports. The bill was introduced in the House and resides in the House Education Committee, Markup Discussion.

 

HB 4656 - The purpose of this bill is to remove truancy as a status offense, shift the focus on absenteeism from punitive to preventive, and clarify the statutory provisions and procedures for chronic absenteeism. The bill was introduced in the House and is currently with the House Education Committee.

 

HB 4660 - To move any remaining sixth-grade classifications from elementary schools to middle schools. The bill was introduced in the House and is currently with the House Education Committee.

 

 

Senate

SB 166 - Relating to eligibility for WV Invests Grant Program. The purpose of this bill is to extend the West Virginia Invests Grant Program eligibility requirements to an associate degree or certificate in a post-secondary program for emergency medical services. The bill was introduced in the Senate Education Committee, reported do pass, but was first referred to the Finance Committee.

 

SB 171 - The purpose of this bill is to create the West Virginia Released Time Education Act. “Released time course" means a course in religious instruction taught by an independent sponsoring entity, for which a student is excused from school to attend. "School district" means county school districts and public charter school districts as otherwise provided for in this bill. The bill provides for a title. The bill creates definitions. The bill provides for released time excusal policies, credit, and remedies. The bill was introduced in the Senate and is in the Education Committee.

 

SB 428 - The purpose of this bill is to create three separate job titles for school bus operators based on years of service. The bill was introduced in the Senate, moved to Education, a Committee substitute was reported, but first to Finance.

SB 388 - Requiring public elementary or secondary schools to make the Aitken Bible available in certain classrooms. This bill was introduced in the Senate and resides in the Education Committee.