Education (Curriculum)

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 5387: Relating to high school graduation requirements

HB 5387 amends West Virginia's high school graduation requirements by removing a mandatory stand-alone computer science course. Instead, it establishes a computer literacy proficiency requirement that students must meet to graduate. The bill restores local flexibility for school districts to determine how to implement this requirement while preserving advanced computer science pathways. This change directly affects all West Virginia high school students by altering one of their required graduation courses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves mandatory course but maintains computer literacy requirement with local flexibility, preserving educational pathways without restricting curriculum or access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 16, 2026

HB 4448: Removing bona fide schools, public libraries, and museums from the list of exemptions from criminal liability relating to distribution and display to minor of obscene matter

HB 4448 removes exemptions that currently protect bona fide schools, public libraries, and museums from criminal charges when distributing or displaying obscene material to minors. The bill amends West Virginia law to eliminate these specific protections, meaning these institutions would no longer be shielded from prosecution under the existing obscenity statute (§61-8A-3). Previously, schools were exempt when showing material as part of approved curriculum, and libraries/museums were exempt if minors were accompanied by parents. This change directly affects how these public institutions handle materials accessible to minors. The bill does not alter other existing exemptions, such as those for medical professionals or internet service providers.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill removes exemptions for schools/libraries/museums from obscenity prosecutions, expanding criminal liability and increasing criminalization of institutions distributing material to minors.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves legal exemption for schools showing material in curriculum, increasing criminal liability for educational content distribution to minors.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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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 · 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 · 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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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 14, 2026

HB 4102: Requiring publicly funded medical schools to teach certain life-saving methods

HB 4102 requires all publicly-funded medical schools in West Virginia to teach specific evidence-based, life-saving medical procedures. This includes abortion pill reversal (using progesterone within 72 hours of taking mifepristone), ectopic pregnancy treatment, miscarriage management, and perinatal hospice care. The bill mandates these topics be part of standard curriculum, with schools failing to comply risking loss of state funding after review by the Legislative Oversight Commission. It directly affects medical schools receiving state, local, or federal funding. The law cites public health and safety as justification, focusing on required teaching content rather than outcomes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates specific life-saving medical curriculum in public medical schools, enhancing higher education curriculum content per Education (Higher) subject.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates teaching life-saving medical procedures in medical schools, enhancing provider training for critical healthcare services including abortion pill reversal and perinatal care.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Public Health Women's Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 51: Requiring course in public schools on human development

SB 51, titled the "Baby Olivia Act," requires all West Virginia public schools to teach a mandatory course on human growth and development starting in third grade. The course must include two specific educational materials: a high-definition ultrasound video showing fetal organ development and the "Meet Baby Olivia" video detailing human development from conception to birth. The State Board of Education is authorized to adopt curriculum rules, and the Attorney General can enforce compliance with civil penalties for nonadherence. This law directly affects public school students in grades three and above across the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mandatory human development curriculum in K-12 schools, enhancing curriculum standards per bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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

HB 4670: To create a pilot program that would exempt certain counties from provisions of the Education code.

HB 4670 creates a voluntary pilot program allowing West Virginia counties to opt out of the state's standard education funding formula and certain education code requirements. Participating counties would receive a fixed block grant equal to their current funding and gain control over staffing, salaries, class sizes, testing (including optional SAT/ACT), graduation requirements, and school calendars. The program excludes counties recently taken over by the state board or declared financially distressed, and requires a 2028 report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability. This bill directly affects participating counties by shifting decision-making authority from state mandates to local control over education operations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMaintains current funding via fixed block grants while granting counties control over staffing, curriculum, and testing - aligning with support indicators of local flexibility and resource stability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice School Funding

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 23, 2026

HB 4794: Requiring high school students to pass a test on the US Constitution to graduate from high school

HB 4794 requires all high school students in West Virginia to pass a test on the U.S. Constitution to graduate. The State Board of Education must create the test, which mandates an 85% passing score and makes content publicly available. Students who fail can retake the test weekly until they meet the threshold. This applies to all high school students in grades 9-12 and takes effect July 1, 2026. The bill aims to ensure graduating seniors demonstrate foundational knowledge of constitutional principles.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates constitutional knowledge test for graduation, strengthening curriculum standards and ensuring foundational civic education per stated purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 166: Relating to eligibility for WV Invests Grant Program

SB 166 amends West Virginia's WV Invests Grant Program to include associate degrees and certificates in emergency medical services (EMS) as eligible post-secondary programs. This change directly affects West Virginia residents pursuing EMS credentials by allowing them to qualify for the grant, which covers tuition and fees at participating institutions. The bill modifies the eligibility requirements in §18C-9-5(a)(8) to explicitly include EMS programs, without altering other existing grant terms like residency, academic standards, or the repayment agreement for graduates who leave the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands grant eligibility for EMS associate degrees, increasing access to higher education funding and aligning with educational access indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds EMS education grants, expanding healthcare workforce training for emergency services by including EMS credentials in grant eligibility.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands grant eligibility for EMS credentials, enabling workforce development in a critical labor sector by reducing education barriers for future workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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