SB 449 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to teaching and instructing world languages in public schools

This bill's title claims to address world language instruction, but the actual text amends history/civics curriculum requirements (§18-2-9) for West Virginia public schools. It mandates K-12 instruction in U.S. history, civics, and government, requiring courses to cover American political philosophy, primary sources, and critical analysis of ideologies like democracy and communism. The bill also specifies standardized testing aligned with these standards and includes health education requirements on STD prevention, substance abuse, and CPR. The title misrepresents the bill's content, as it focuses on history/civics standards - not world language teaching - as detailed in the full text.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Jan 16, 2026
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Total actions
3
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Committee
1
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
To Education
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Laura Chapman
Laura Chapman
RRepublican
WV
1