Education

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 4533: Including Potomac State College in the definition of community and technical college education program for participation in the “Learn and Earn Program”

HB 4533 amends West Virginia law to permanently include Potomac State College of West Virginia University as an eligible institution for the "Learn and Earn Program." This program allows students to work with employers while studying technical programs, earning a salary and gaining work experience. The bill removes the previous "pilot" designation for Potomac State, making its participation in the program permanent rather than temporary. This directly affects Potomac State students seeking affordable, work-based technical education opportunities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPermanently includes Potomac State College in Learn and Earn Program, expanding student access to work-study opportunities in technical education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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

HB 4181: Permitting middle or high school students to participate in travel sports teams without repercussion.

HB 4181 prohibits the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission from taking adverse actions against middle or high school students who participate in travel sports teams. The bill directly affects students enrolled in public schools who compete on travel sports teams outside their school's athletic program. It ensures these students cannot face disciplinary measures or bans from school sports for participating in travel teams, while existing eligibility rules (like academic requirements and age limits) still apply. The commission must treat these students equally and cannot discriminate against them based on travel sports participation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes disciplinary barriers for student travel sports participation, enhancing K-12 extracurricular access and program availability within education policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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

HB 4900: To mandate county boards of education to provide feminine hygiene products in all public elementary, middle, and high schools for female students

HB 4900 requires all West Virginia county boards of education to provide free feminine hygiene products (such as pads and tampons) to female students in public elementary, middle, and high schools. The bill mandates this access using existing school appropriations for hygiene products, without requiring new state funding. It directly affects female students in every public K-12 school across the state. The key provision is a mandatory requirement for schools to ensure these products are available, funded through current budget allocations for school hygiene supplies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates free feminine hygiene products in all public K-12 schools, directly improving educational access for female students by removing a barrier to attendance and participation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates free feminine hygiene products in schools, improving access to essential health supplies for female students under public health initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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

HB 4953: To require all West Virginia high school students to pass a Civics examination and the United States Naturalization Examination

HB 4953 requires all West Virginia high school students to pass a civics examination and the U.S. Naturalization Examination as a prerequisite for graduation. This bill directly affects all public, private, parochial, and denominational high school students in West Virginia who are nearing graduation. Key provisions mandate that schools teach U.S. government history, civics, and the Constitution (as outlined in §18-2-9), provide standardized tests aligned with these standards, and make the two exams mandatory for graduation. The bill does not change existing curriculum requirements but adds the passing of these specific exams as a new graduation requirement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates civics/naturalization exams for graduation, requiring curriculum focus on U.S. government history and Constitution, strengthening educational standards for K-12 students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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passed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 30, 2026

HB 4422: To permit students in eighth and ninth grade to attend summer school in order to raise their grades and establish academic eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities in the fall

HB 4422 permits eighth and ninth-grade students in West Virginia public schools to attend summer school specifically to improve their grades and meet academic eligibility requirements for extracurricular activities (such as sports) in the following fall. The bill amends existing law to explicitly allow this pathway, ensuring students who need grade improvement can participate in summer programs without interference with the regular school year. It does not change summer school program structure or funding but directly affects 8th and 9th graders who risk losing activity eligibility due to academic standing.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPermits 8th/9th graders to use summer school for grade improvement to maintain extracurricular eligibility, expanding academic access for K-12 students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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

HB 4395: Relating to investigations of allegations of child safety violations for school personnel.

HB 4395 requires school boards to continue investigations into allegations that school personnel harmed student safety or welfare, even if the employee resigns or transfers to another school. It mandates that investigations must be completed regardless of the employee's employment status, and county superintendents must report all such cases - including reasons for suspension - to the state superintendent within seven business days. The state superintendent will maintain a confidential database of all investigated personnel, including the basis for investigations or disciplinary actions. This bill directly affects school personnel, school boards, and county superintendents by ensuring ongoing accountability for potential child safety violations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates continued investigations of school staff safety violations regardless of employment status, strengthening student safety protections in K-12 schools.92% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 571: Relating to WV Rural Health Transformation Program

SB 571 modifies West Virginia law to implement the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. It exempts the program from standard state purchasing rules (§5A-3-3d) to ensure timely use of federal funds. The bill also requires public schools to adopt the Presidential Fitness Test for students in grades 4-8 and high school (§18-2-7a), and mandates that medical and osteopathic boards require continuing education in nutrition for license renewal (§30-3-12, §30-14-10). These provisions directly affect rural health programs, public schools, and licensed healthcare professionals.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates public schools to adopt Presidential Fitness Test for grades 4-8 and high school, directly enhancing student program requirements.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModifies law to implement federal rural health program (funding access) and mandates nutrition CE for medical licenses (enhancing provider standards), directly advancing healthcare services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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

HB 4961: Cap the amount of family income eligible for Hope Scholarships

HB 4961 would limit eligibility for West Virginia's Hope Scholarship program by capping family income at $150,000 in the taxable year of application. This change directly affects parents applying for the scholarship to cover K-12 education expenses for their children. The bill amends existing law to require that a parent's combined federal adjusted gross income must be below $150,000, replacing any previous income threshold. It does not alter other program requirements, such as qualifying education expenses or application procedures.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesCaps income eligibility for state scholarship program, reducing state expenditure on education funding by limiting qualified applicants.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts K-12 scholarship access by capping family income at $150k, limiting eligibility for Hope Scholarships per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 218: Creating Community School Support Fund

Senate Bill 218 creates a $5 million annual Community School Support Fund within West Virginia's Department of Education to assist schools at risk of closure or consolidation. It directly affects schools that qualified for Federal Title I funding during the 2024-2025 school year, providing up to 20% of a school's operating costs to help sustain them. Schools must apply through their Local School Improvement Council, and the fund exempts certain staffing requirements while allowing use of Step 7 funds for personnel and facility costs. The bill requires the State Superintendent to identify savings to set aside the $5 million annually and clarifies the application process for this targeted support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates $5M annual fund to sustain Title I schools at risk of closure, covering 20% of operating costs to prevent consolidation and protect K-12 access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 4775: Relating to addressing School Discipline in Public Schools

HB 4775 requires the West Virginia Department of Education to analyze statewide school discipline data - including breakdowns by race, gender, and disability - and develop a statewide program to reduce disciplinary actions against K-12 students. It mandates county school boards to implement this program, aiming to improve disciplinary outcomes. The bill also requires the Department to submit biennial reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, provide annual updates, and publish discipline data on a public dashboard for transparency. This directly affects all public schools and county boards across West Virginia through new data collection, program implementation, and reporting obligations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces school discipline disparities, aligns with criminal justice reform by addressing school-to-prison pipeline factors through data-driven equity programs.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates data analysis and program to reduce disciplinary actions, promoting equitable K-12 school discipline practices85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

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