Education

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 612: Establishing November 7 as Victims of Communism Day

West Virginia's SB 612 designates November 7 as "Victims of Communism Day" for public schools, requiring high school students in the mandated U.S. Government class to receive at least 45 minutes of annual instruction on this topic. The bill specifies instruction must cover historical communist regimes (including Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution, Stalin's Soviet system, and others) and how victims suffered through poverty, violence, and suppression. It directs the State Board of Education to revise social studies standards by April 2026 to include these requirements. The observance applies to all public schools, with make-up days if November 7 falls on a non-school day. This bill directly affects West Virginia public school students and educators in required U.S. Government courses.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates specific curriculum content, restricting academic freedom per indicators; requires 45+ minutes on 'Victims of Communism' in U.S. Gov class.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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

HB 4698: Require adoption awareness material be made available in high school counseling offices

HB 4698 requires West Virginia public high schools (grades 9-12) to make adoption awareness materials available to students upon request. The materials must cover adoption types, foster care vs. private adoption, resources for pregnant students, and child development information. Schools must provide written materials to parents or guardians of pregnant students who receive the information. This bill, effective for the 2026-2027 school year, directly affects high school students and their families by providing standardized adoption resources through school counseling offices.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides educational resources on adoption and pregnancy support in high school counseling, expanding student access to information within K-12 education framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 19, 2026

SB 489: Creating High School Educator Flexibility Act

SB 489 creates a new course-specific teaching permit allowing certified West Virginia high school educators to teach high-quality courses outside their formally endorsed subject area. Eligible educators - including those with alternative certifications, conditional licenses, or relevant degrees - can earn this permanent permit by completing 30+ hours of approved professional learning tied directly to a specific course. Approved professional learning must be provided by designated non-profit organizations and cover both course content and teaching methods, verified by a certificate. School districts can then assign educators with these permits to fill specialized teaching needs, such as career-technical or college-aligned courses developed with colleges or industry partners. This system aims to increase flexibility in staffing without requiring full certification changes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates a course-specific teaching permit enabling educators to teach outside endorsed subjects via professional development, expanding course access and supporting K-12 teacher flexibility and educational offerings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum Teachers

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passed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 27, 2026

HB 4081: To create the Higher Education Health and Aid Grant.

HB 4081 creates the Higher Education Health and Aid Grant program for West Virginia public colleges with multiple campuses. The bill requires these institutions to use grant funds to establish campus food and health aid stations, specifically for non-perishable food items and basic hygiene products like toothpaste, sanitary supplies, and first-aid items. Funds cannot cover fresh food, medical care, or prescription items. Institutions must track all purchases and inventory monthly, and submit annual reports to the Higher Education Policy Commission detailing program impact on student food/hygiene insecurity.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program funding campus food/health aid stations for students, directly supporting educational access and basic needs at public colleges.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Student Health

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

HB 4860: Direct Classroom Funding Act

HB 4860, the Direct Classroom Funding Act, changes how West Virginia public school funding is distributed by sending state education funds directly to individual teachers instead of through school districts. It creates a "Classroom Expense Account" for each teacher, funded proportionally from state accounts, which teachers can use to purchase classroom supplies and materials via a dedicated purchase card. Teachers gain online access to track balances, and purchases made through these accounts are exempt from typical district vendor requirements while being publicly listed online for transparency. The bill affects all West Virginia public school teachers who receive instructional funding, shifting control of these resources from district administrators to educators.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funds directly to teachers for classroom supplies via expense accounts, increasing resource access for K-12 education without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Teachers

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 11: Allowing certain Teachers Retirement System members to exchange unused leave for monetary compensation

This bill allows classroom teachers who joined the West Virginia Teachers Retirement System on or after July 1, 2015, to sell up to 10 unused personal leave days to their county school board for a cash payment. Teachers would receive 80% of the rate paid to a substitute teacher with a bachelor's degree and 10 years of experience for each day sold, with payment required by June 30. Once sold, the leave days are forfeited and cannot be used for future absences.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates school boards pay teachers for unused leave, increasing government spending on education without tax changes, aligning with fiscal responsibility for public services.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides financial benefit to teachers via cash compensation for unused leave, supporting educator retention and compensation within K-12 education.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows teachers to monetize unused leave, expanding compensation benefits beyond standard leave policies, aligning with worker benefit enhancements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions Teachers

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

HB 4087: To create a West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance.

HB 4087 establishes the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance Partnership to strengthen academic, cultural, and workforce connections between West Virginia and Ireland. It creates a formal partnership requiring five four-year universities and five two-year colleges in West Virginia to collaborate with Irish institutions. The bill provides for five $50,000 grants to fund joint programs between these institutions. This partnership is governed by a commission with specific membership rules, including legislative and community representatives. The bill directly affects West Virginia higher education institutions and their Irish counterparts through structured collaboration and grant opportunities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides $250,000 in state grants for education partnerships, increasing government spending on higher education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $50,000 grants for joint higher education programs between WV and Ireland, strengthening academic collaboration and funding international partnerships.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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

HB 4941: To provide a raise for special education aides, as well as a raise for self-contained special education teachers

HB 4941 increases pay for special education staff in West Virginia. It requires special education aides (specifically Aide V) to be paid at the same rate as Early Childhood Classroom Assistant Teachers, plus an additional 5% raise. Self-contained special education teachers receive a 10% salary increase. The bill also defines a "critical vacancy" as a position needed for student success and safety, mandating that certified staff fill such roles until a permanent hire is made.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases pay for special education aides (5%+) and teachers (10%), mandates critical vacancy staffing to support educator retention and student safety in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases wages for special education aides (5% raise) and teachers (10% raise), directly advancing compensation standards in labor/employment for education workforce.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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

HB 4637: Limit the time Teachers Aides can be pulled from their regular duties to 30 minutes per day.

HB 4637 limits teacher aides in West Virginia public schools to no more than 30 minutes per day when they are pulled from their regular job duties to cover other tasks. The bill amends state education code to establish this clear time cap for all aides temporarily reassigned outside their primary responsibilities. It directly affects teacher aides by ensuring they spend most of their workday in their designated roles rather than being diverted for other duties. This policy change creates a concrete, measurable restriction on how often schools can reassign aide time.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationLimits time aides are pulled from duties to protect their primary roles, supporting educator effectiveness and classroom stability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 20, 2026

HB 4578: To provide more local control over educational decisionmaking, differentiation of funding for counties, and to address operational efficiencies within education.

HB 4578 amends West Virginia education code sections related to teacher contracts and employment, directly affecting school districts and teachers. It specifies that all teachers must sign county board contracts detailing salary, establishes probationary (1-3 years) and continuing contract statuses, and requires written notice with a hearing for termination after three years. The bill clarifies procedures for dismissal due to lack of need, including preferred reemployment lists based on seniority, and ensures released time for teachers serving in the Legislature. It does not address funding differentiation or operational efficiencies as implied in its title, focusing solely on teacher contract terms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies teacher contract terms, probationary periods, and termination procedures with hearings, providing due process protections for educators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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