Education

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 4446: Firefighter Pilot Program

HB 4446 establishes a four-year pilot program in Kanawha, Ohio, Mineral, and Raleigh counties to provide free Fire Fighter I and II training through community colleges. It directly affects eligible high school and college students in those counties by covering tuition and fees for courses meeting West Virginia State Fire Commission standards. The program requires each county to provide at least one certified fire service instructor, funded by the Higher Education Policy Commission, with annual reports tracking participation, certifications earned, costs, and student employment. The pilot runs from July 2026 through June 2030, with mandatory evaluations to determine future expansion or termination.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCovers tuition/fees for fire service training at community colleges, directly funding educational access for students in specified counties.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Tags Public Safety

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

HB 4497: To not entitle WV students to get aid from any WV schools unless they pass a college qualification exam in the 10th grade

This bill would require all West Virginia public high school students to pass a state-developed college readiness exam in 10th grade to qualify for public financial aid at West Virginia's public colleges and universities. The State Board of Education must create the exam and set passing standards, allowing students who fail to retake it after a reasonable time. It applies only to publicly available financial aid for public institutions and would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year. The bill does not affect other forms of aid or private institutions.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts access to higher education financial aid by requiring 10th-grade exam pass, limiting eligibility for state aid and creating barriers to educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Financial Aid Testing & Assessment

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 176: Increasing non-traditional instruction days for WV teachers

SB 176 amends West Virginia law to increase the number of non-traditional instruction days that count toward the required 180 instructional days from five to ten days per school year. This change directly affects West Virginia school districts and teachers, allowing counties to use up to five days for alternative instruction during closures (e.g., weather-related school shutdowns) and up to five additional days for teacher-led instructional improvement activities without students present. The bill specifies that these days count as full instructional days for both student calendar requirements and teacher employment terms. It does not change the total instructional time needed but provides greater flexibility in scheduling closures and professional development.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases teacher professional development days (5 additional days for instructional improvement), supporting educator effectiveness and school continuity without student presence.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 63: Creating Sustaining Opportunities for Academics in Rural Schools Act

SB 63 amends West Virginia's charter school application rules by adding detailed requirements for new or converted public charter schools. It mandates applicants to submit specific elements including a mission statement with academic focus, student achievement goals, governance structure plans, enrollment strategies, five-year budgets, and plans for serving students with disabilities or language needs. The bill does not specifically target rural schools (despite its title), as these requirements apply broadly to all charter school applications statewide. This procedural change affects school applicants seeking approval to establish or convert public charter schools, focusing on transparency and accountability in the application process.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires charter school applicants to include academic focus, student achievement goals, and plans for serving diverse students, enhancing educational quality and access without restricting funding or curriculum.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Tags Rural Communities

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 219: Creating moratorium on school closings and consolidation

SB 219 creates a 5-year moratorium (starting July 1, 2026) on closing or consolidating any public school in West Virginia. It directly affects all public schools and their students by preventing closures while requiring the state to provide emergency funding for existing schools through Local School Improvement Councils. The bill mandates the Board of Education to conduct eight specific studies over five years, including tracking school proximity/travel data, implementing an annual safety/climate rating system for schools, validating assessment data, and studying how school size affects student well-being and academic performance. At the end of the moratorium, the Board must report findings and recommendations to the legislature, with the moratorium extending indefinitely if all studies aren't completed.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state emergency funding for existing schools to prevent closures, directly increasing government spending on essential education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents school closures/consolidations, mandates emergency funding for existing schools, and requires studies on safety/proximity - directly protecting access and funding for K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Testing & Assessment

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

HB 4605: Relating to modifying the school aid formula to provide more support for schools under certain circumstances.

HB 4605 modifies West Virginia's school funding formula to provide additional support for public schools under specific circumstances. The bill removes restrictions on using funds for instructional programs, allowing schools greater flexibility in allocating resources for teaching and learning. It also establishes a budget limit for the Third Grade Success Act and requires the Governor to provide specific funding for the Department of Education's budget. These changes adjust how school aid is distributed to better address varying school needs as defined in the legislation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill modifies school funding formula to provide additional support, removes restrictions on instructional funds, and mandates specific education budget allocations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies school aid formula to increase support, removes fund restrictions for instructional programs, mandates specific education funding allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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

HB 4152: Workforce-Education Partnership Act

HB 4152, the Workforce-Education Partnership Act, allows West Virginia business owners to contract employees to vocational programs or high school classes while the employees retain full-time status and benefits. Businesses receive a 100% tax credit on wages paid during participation, capped at $50,000 per business annually and $5 million statewide yearly. Employees must meet program qualifications and cannot replace certified teachers in core subjects, but may provide specialized training in fields like trade skills or healthcare. The law ensures fiscal responsibility through strict caps and uses existing state resources to minimize administrative costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides 100% business tax credit ($50k/business, $5M statewide) with fiscal caps, aligning with tax relief and responsible budget management.88% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax credits for business partnerships in vocational education, increasing funding/access for students without replacing certified teachers in core subjects.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRetains full-time status/benefits for employees in vocational programs, provides tax incentives for businesses to maintain employment, directly supports worker employment conditions and benefits.95% confidence

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

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

HB 4112: Provide tax credit for homeschool students

HB 4112 creates a tax credit for West Virginia parents or legal guardians who homeschool or send children to private schools meeting state education standards. The credit equals the annual HOPE Scholarship amount per taxpayer (not per child) and applies to tax years starting January 1, 2026. Families already eligible for the HOPE Scholarship cannot claim this credit. The bill does not allow the State Board of Education to add new regulations for homeschooled children receiving this credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit reducing taxpayer liability for homeschool/private school expenses, aligning with tax relief for families.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax credit for homeschool/private school access, expanding educational choice options for families per bill's explicit language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 241: Allowing Board of Education to prohibit individuals on sex offender registry from being on school property

This bill prohibits individuals listed on West Virginia's state sex offender registry from entering public school property, attending school events, or participating in school activities - including those involving their own children - without permission from the county superintendent. It requires parent-teacher conferences involving such individuals to be held via phone or virtual meeting instead of in person. Violating this prohibition carries penalties: a first offense is a misdemeanor (up to six months in jail), and subsequent offenses are felonies (one to five years in prison). The State Board of Education may also develop rules to implement these provisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects student safety on school property by restricting sex offenders, a core educational safety measure directly addressing K-12 school environment protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers

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

HB 4505: Requiring each county school board to employ at least one full time school nurse

HB 4505 requires every West Virginia county school board to employ at least one full-time school nurse at each public school serving kindergarten through seventh grade. The requirement applies for every 1,500 students enrolled (or major fraction thereof), with counties able to contract with public health departments for equivalent services if approved. County boards may apply for state funds to cover costs exceeding the basic nurse requirement, particularly for students with specialized health needs. The bill also mandates that nurses be licensed registered professionals and outlines training standards for school employees who may assist with certain health procedures under supervision.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school nurses for K-7 schools, improving student health services (a key aspect of school infrastructure) and enabling state funding support for implementation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandating school nurses directly improves student access to healthcare services in schools, advancing public health access for K-7 students as required by the bill.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Healthcare Workforce Public Health

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