High School Educator Flexibility Act of 2026

SB 409 creates a new "course-specific teaching permit" allowing certified West Virginia high school teachers to teach specific high-quality courses - even outside their subject-area certification - after completing approved training. The bill defines "high-quality courses" as those with industry credentials, college credit, or standardized exams, and requires teachers to finish 30+ hours of approved professional learning from designated providers. School districts can assign permit-holding teachers to fill staffing gaps in these courses, and the bill guarantees that career-technical education funding won’t be reduced for courses taught by such instructors. This directly affects certified teachers seeking flexibility and school districts managing specialized course staffing.