Education

introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 567: Prohibiting charging Hope Scholarship students fees for extracurricular program-related services

SB 567 prohibits county and charter school boards from charging Hope Scholarship students fees for extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, or arts programs. It also modifies the academic requirement for students in individualized instructional programs by allowing a certified teacher to review the student's academic work annually instead of requiring standardized test scores. The bill ensures these students can access extracurricular services without additional costs while maintaining accountability through annual teacher reviews reported to county superintendents. This directly affects Hope Scholarship students and school boards managing the program in West Virginia.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits fees for extracurriculars, enhancing access for scholarship students and reduces testing burden via teacher reviews, aligning with expanded educational access and support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid Testing & Assessment

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SB 591: Prohibiting teaching of divisive acts and critical race theory in public schools

SB 591 prohibits public and charter schools in West Virginia from teaching students to believe certain "divisive concepts," such as the idea that one race is inherently superior or that the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist. The bill defines these concepts broadly, including claims about inherent racial or sexual superiority, historical blame, or discrimination based on race or sex. Teachers who teach these concepts may face dismissal, though the bill allows objective academic discussion of them without endorsement. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts curriculum by prohibiting teaching of specific concepts related to race/gender, directly limiting academic content per education topic indicators.95% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2026

HB 4859: Allowing a county board of education participating in the operation of a multicounty vocational center to withdraw

HB 4859 allows county boards of education participating in a multicounty vocational center to integrate career technical education programs directly into their local high schools instead of sending students to the centralized facility. County boards may choose to host either a state-approved program or a locally developed program within their high school. The bill modifies construction rules to permit counties to plan vocational facilities at existing high schools, considering factors like travel distance and facility conditions. This change gives counties more flexibility in delivering vocational training while maintaining coordination with existing multicounty centers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables local integration of vocational programs in high schools, increasing accessibility and flexibility for students without defunding. Supports educational access and program enhancement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 4938: Require county boards of education to train at least one professional staff member at each school in a grant writing procedures.

HB 4938 requires West Virginia county boards of education to train at least one professional staff member at each public school in grant writing procedures. This bill directly affects school districts and their staff members, mandating a specific training requirement for grant acquisition. The key provision specifies that each school must have one trained staff member by July 1, 2026, to improve the district's ability to secure external funding. The law aims to enhance schools' capacity to access additional resources through grant opportunities. This is a procedural requirement focused on staff development, not a change to funding levels or program content.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires grant writing training to improve external funding access, directly supporting school resource acquisition and capacity building.90% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 26, 2026

HB 4822: To redirect data center tax revenue to PEIA, counties, and schools

HB 4822 redirects tax revenue from "High Impact Data Centers" (as defined under West Virginia law) to three specific recipients: the Public Employees Insurance Association (PEIA) fund, local counties, and public school boards. The bill amends tax distribution rules to require that incremental property tax revenue from these data centers - calculated using a new formula based on assessed value and levy rates - be reallocated instead of following previous distribution methods. This change directly affects data centers certified as "High Impact" under §11-6N-2, ensuring their tax contributions support state health insurance programs, county services, and school funding. The policy shift replaces prior tax allocation rules with a fixed distribution structure for these facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing data center tax revenue to fund PEIA, counties, and schools, increasing public service funding per bill's explicit tax reallocation mandate.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects data center tax revenue to public school boards, increasing education funding per bill's explicit allocation to schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRedirects data center tax revenue to PEIA fund, directly increasing healthcare funding for public employees' insurance coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue School Funding Insurance

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Aug 13, 2026

HB 4798: Permitting teachers to wear a “mobile alert button” for emergency situations, to be known as “Alyssa’s Law.”

HB 4798 requires all West Virginia schools to implement a wearable panic alert system called "Alyssa's Law" for staff by December 31, 2026. The bill mandates that every school staff member (including teachers) receives a device capable of instantly triggering 9-1-1 calls and campus-wide lockdowns while integrating with local emergency systems. Schools must also provide annual training on device use and share security data (like cameras and maps) with law enforcement. This policy directly affects all school staff across the state and aims to improve emergency response during crises. The bill is currently in committee review and has not yet become law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates safety systems for K-12 staff, directly protecting educators and students per 'Alyssa's Law' requirements, aligning with 'protect' indicator in education support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Safety Teachers

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 22, 2026

HB 4727: To provide a 25% pay increase for state teachers (all salary scales)

HB 4727 would increase all state teacher salaries in West Virginia by 25% across every salary scale and experience level, effective for the 2024-2025 school year. It directly affects all public school teachers paid under the state minimum salary schedule, including those with varying certifications (like A.B., M.A., or special education) and years of experience. The bill amends the existing salary schedule by adding 25% to every base salary figure shown in the table, such as raising a 0-year experience 4th Class teacher's salary from $39,057 to approximately $48,821. This is a direct pay increase applied uniformly to all teacher classifications without changing certification requirements or adding new benefit categories.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state budget allocation for teacher salaries by 25%, directly funding public education services under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly increases state teacher salaries by 25% across all experience levels and certifications, directly supporting educator compensation and funding for K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirectly increases state teachers' salaries by 25%, advancing wage standards for public education workers under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers Professional Licensing

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4005: Skills to work

HB 4005, "Skills to Work," creates a state-funded Youth Apprenticeship Program for West Virginia students aged 16 or older in 11th or 12th grade. It allows these students to earn high school credit and job skills certifications through structured apprenticeships in fields like manufacturing, healthcare, and office technology, requiring 135 classroom hours and 400 on-the-job training hours per program. The bill mandates schools to partner with employers to develop approved apprenticeships, with standards including progressive wages, performance evaluations, and school approval. It also clarifies that apprenticeships cannot include hazardous occupations prohibited for minors under federal and state child labor laws. The program must be fully implemented across all school systems by the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationState-funded program creates new educational pathway with high school credit, job skills certification, and school-employer partnerships for students.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates state-funded youth apprenticeships with job skills training, workplace experience, and certifications in high-demand fields, advancing workforce development and employment pathways for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Apprenticeships Child Labor Workforce Development

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 16, 2026

SB 449: 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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specific U.S. history/civics curriculum requirements for K-12, including critical analysis of ideologies and standardized testing, strengthening educational content standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 4634: Support for neglected Schools

HB 4634 establishes the "Support for Neglected Schools Act" by amending West Virginia law to clarify how the School Building Authority allocates state and federal funds for school facility improvements. It directs the authority to allocate up to 10% of available funds for statewide educational projects or programs under the state board's jurisdiction, with specific requirements like 10-year facility plans for state board projects. Additionally, it sets aside 2% for emergency funding and reserves 5% specifically for multi-use vocational-technical education facilities, including equipment updates. This bill directly affects school districts, vocational centers, and the School Building Authority by modifying existing funding distribution procedures for school construction and major improvements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates 10% of funds for school projects and 2% for emergencies, directing existing budget toward essential K-12 infrastructure needs without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects allocation of state/federal funds for school facility improvements, reserves 10% for statewide projects and 2% for emergencies, strengthening K-12 infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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