Education

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

HB 4607: Relating to standards of private schools

HB 4607 (introduced January 20, 2026) would require West Virginia state and local agencies to treat private and parochial schools equally to public schools for all school construction processes. The bill mandates that agencies must apply identical standards for building permits, fees, safety requirements, wastewater management, septic systems, and permitting timelines to private/parochial schools as they do for public schools. This addresses legislative findings that private schools have faced stricter construction rules than public schools. The bill directly affects private/parochial schools and the agencies overseeing construction regulations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates equal construction standards for private schools, ensuring equitable access to infrastructure and safety requirements as public schools.85% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 687: Prohibiting obscene materials in or within 2,500 feet of WV schools

SB 687 prohibits obscene materials (as defined by West Virginia law) from being present in or within 2,500 feet of public school facilities, including libraries, classrooms, and buildings for all public schools (pre-K through 12), public charter schools, and specific special education centers. School officials must remove known obscene materials and report suspected exposure of children to such materials; failure to report can result in misdemeanor charges. The bill also bans using school funds for materials promoting sexual activity to youth or distributing obscene materials to minors near schools, and requires the State Superintendent to establish complaint procedures with civil remedies available for negligence.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits obscene materials near schools to protect student safety in educational environments, aligning with protective measures for K-12 facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Special Education

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 406: Reorganizing School Building Authority as School Maintenance Authority

SB 406 renames the "School Building Authority" to the "School Maintenance Authority" in West Virginia law. The bill explicitly shifts the entity's focus from financing new school construction (like buildings and major renovations) to prioritizing ongoing school maintenance and repairs (such as facility upkeep and safety upgrades). This change affects county school boards and the authority itself, as it redirects funding toward maintenance projects - excluding routine repairs, instructional equipment, and new construction - under the updated "facilities plan" requirements. The bill does not create new funding mechanisms but redefines existing processes to emphasize maintenance over construction.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects funding from new construction to maintenance/repairs, improving school infrastructure safety and upkeep per bill summary.90% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 414: Keep Accreditation About Academics Act

SB 414, the "Keep Accreditation About Academics Act," prohibits accrediting agencies from considering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in accreditation decisions for West Virginia public colleges and universities. The bill defines DEI as any practice involving differential treatment based on race, gender, or other protected characteristics and bans accrediting agencies from collecting, reviewing, or requiring such initiatives. It allows students, employees, or the Attorney General to sue accrediting agencies for violations, with penalties including triple damages and attorney fees. The law directly affects West Virginia's public higher education institutions and their accreditors by restricting how accreditation decisions are made. This bill aims to limit accreditation processes to academic standards alone, removing DEI considerations from evaluation criteria.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly bans DEI initiatives from accreditation decisions, restricting their consideration in higher education evaluation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 19, 2026

HB 4063: Relating to requiring the State Board of Education to design, test, and deploy an internet-based reporting system to be known as the School Choice Portal

HB 4063 requires West Virginia's State Board of Education to create and deploy an online portal called the "School Choice Portal" by August 2026. The portal will allow families using non-public school options (such as homeschooling) to electronically submit required notices and reports, including a Notice of Intent, with features like secure access, dashboards for families and school boards, and submission acknowledgments. It must work across all 55 counties, include input from stakeholders like homeschoolers and microschools, and clearly label optional information. The bill mandates the portal be operational for the 2026-2027 school year and requires the Board to report child listings to the relevant county.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates portal to streamline school choice reporting for non-public options, expanding educational access and administrative support for K-12 families.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 4817: Relating to modifying the Charter Schools Startup Fund

HB 4817 changes the name of West Virginia's "Charter Schools Stimulus Fund" to the "Charter Schools Startup Fund" and modifies its administration. The bill requires charter school applicants to submit applications directly to the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board, expands eligible uses of funds to cover startup costs like personnel, instructional materials, equipment, and building renovations, and eliminates prior financial capacity requirements. It mandates repayment with interest if schools fail to open within 30 months after receiving grants (up to $300,000 initially, plus $100,000 later), with the Board managing distributions based on funding availability. This bill directly affects new and existing charter school applicants and schools seeking startup financial support in West Virginia.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands charter school funding eligibility for startup costs including personnel and infrastructure, removing financial barriers to support new school development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice

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

HB 4914: West Virginia Education Freedom and Parental Empowerment Act

HB 4914, the West Virginia Education Freedom and Parental Empowerment Act, creates education savings accounts (ESAs) funded by federal block grants to give parents direct control over K-12 education spending. It requires state funds to be allocated equally per student into parent-controlled accounts, usable for tuition at private/charter schools, tutoring, materials, and other qualified educational expenses. The bill dissolves the State Board of Education’s regulatory powers over K-12 education, limiting it to only transferring federal funds to the State Treasurer, who administers the program and tracks spending. This directly affects all West Virginia K-12 students and their families by shifting educational funding and decision-making from state authorities to parents.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRedirects state K-12 funding to private/charter schools via ESAs, dissolves State Board's regulatory powers, and shifts control from public schools to parents.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Choice

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 53: Providing greater access to unused buildings for public charter schools

Senate Bill 53 requires West Virginia county school boards to publish an annual list of unused public buildings (such as closed or unoccupied school facilities) on a public website. This allows public charter schools to request and lease these buildings for classroom use, provided the buildings are not currently used for instruction. The bill ensures county boards cannot sell or block a building once a charter school requests it, and gives schools up to two years to secure approval and complete necessary renovations. Charter schools must pay market-rate rent and cover all operating costs (including utilities, maintenance, and repairs) during the lease. If a charter school's application is denied, the county board is not obligated to hold the building for future requests.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands educational access by enabling charter schools to lease unused public buildings, directly supporting K-12 school infrastructure and options.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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failed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2026

HB 4573: Foster Youth Post-Secondary Transition Awareness Act

HB 4573 requires West Virginia high schools to provide foster youth (current or former foster care) with information about post-secondary education, job training, housing, healthcare, and independent-living support before graduation. The bill mandates school counselors and graduation coaches receive training on these resources and directs the state Department of Education to create and maintain a Foster Youth Resource Guide. County school districts must ensure eligible students receive this pre-graduation information. The law aims to improve transition planning for foster youth entering adulthood, without requiring disclosure of a student’s foster care status.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates schools to provide foster youth with post-secondary education resources, enhancing access and support for vulnerable students in K-12 transition.95% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 4834: To permit women’s wrestling in public high schools as a sanctioned event

HB 4834 amends West Virginia law to explicitly permit women’s wrestling as a sanctioned sport in public high schools and public charter schools. The bill directly affects school districts and athletic programs by allowing them to officially recognize and sponsor girls' wrestling teams under existing athletic regulations. It adds women’s wrestling to the list of permitted interscholastic athletic events without changing eligibility rules for students. The change requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission to approve wrestling as a sanctioned sport under its authority.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands athletic program access for female students in K-12 schools by sanctioning women's wrestling, enhancing educational opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

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