HB 2777: Relating to removing requirements to submit certain evidence on behalf of home-schooled children - West Virginia

Committee Substitute → Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision strengthens home schooling oversight by expanding the authority of county and state boards to deny home instruction requests, adding protections against child abuse investigations, and clarifying the authority of superintendents. It also adds a new school choice portal provision to the bill's purpose and changes the version title from Committee Substitute to Engrossed Version.

Scope change

The bill now includes a school choice portal in its stated purpose and expands oversight authority from county-level to include state-level boards and superintendents in home instruction decisions.

REQUIREMENT

Home instruction requests can now be denied by either county or state boards, not just county boards, with corresponding changes to superintendent authority.

Clarifies that active investigations must have been initiated before the parent sought homeschool approval, not as a result of it.

ENFORCEMENT

New provision requires boards to review pending child abuse or neglect investigations before approving home instruction and limits approval to 10 days if an investigation is active.

Boards may grant provisional home instruction approval for children withdrawing from school while investigations are pending.

SCOPE

Bill purpose now includes establishing a school choice portal in addition to removing evidence requirements for home-schooled children.

TECHNICAL

Version title changed from Committee Substitute (2) to Engrossed Version and updated link references from sub1 to sub2.

Engrossed Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute → Committee Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill significantly restructures home education regulations by creating a new School Choice Portal, simplifying assessment requirements, and adding exemptions for learning pods and microschools. Key changes include removing certain evidence submission requirements for homeschoolers, establishing a digital portal for school choice paperwork, and creating new categories for alternative education arrangements.

Scope change

Expanded scope to include learning pods and microschools as formal exemptions from compulsory attendance, while simplifying requirements for traditional homeschooling.

REQUIREMENT

New School Choice Portal requirements with specific security, privacy, and operational standards for digital reporting of school choice paperwork

Simplified academic assessment options for homeschoolers, removing some previous evidence requirements

DEFINITION

New definitions for 'learning pod' and 'microschool' as distinct categories of home instruction exemptions

TIMELINE

Specific deadline of August 1, 2025 for implementing the School Choice Portal and email submission system

ENFORCEMENT

New provisions requiring state superintendent notification when children enroll in learning pods or microschools

ELIGIBILITY

Modified eligibility criteria for home instruction exemptions to accommodate new learning pod and microschool categories

Introduced Version → Engrossed Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute · 7 edits · Apr 1, 2025

MODERATE

HB 2777 was significantly amended to create a new 'School Choice Portal' for online submission of homeschool paperwork, expand assessment options to include portfolios and alternative assessments, and introduce new exemptions for 'learning pods' and 'microschools.' The bill also broadens oversight authority from county boards to include the state board and adds requirements to check for child abuse investigations before approving homeschooling requests.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from traditional homeschooling to include learning pods and microschools as distinct educational options with their own requirements, while also broadening oversight authority from county-level to include state-level boards.

REQUIREMENT

Created a mandatory 'School Choice Portal' and email system for submitting homeschool paperwork by August 1, 2025, with specific security and accessibility requirements.

Expanded assessment options for home-schooled children to include portfolio reviews by certified teachers and alternative assessments agreed upon by parents and superintendents.

Added requirement for parents to maintain academic assessment records for three years and submit results at specific grade levels by June 30.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'learning pod' and 'microschool' as distinct educational arrangements with specific reporting and assessment requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Added requirement that county or state boards must review pending child abuse or neglect investigations before approving homeschooling requests.

ENFORCEMENT

Broadened oversight authority from county boards to include state boards in approving homeschooling and reviewing assessments.

EXEMPTIONS

Created new exemption category for children participating in learning pods or microschools with their own set of requirements.

Relating to removing requirements to submit certain evidence on behalf of home-schooled children

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors