Education

vetoed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 4002: Establishing the West Virginia Collaboratory

HB 4002 establishes the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University to connect state university research with practical needs of government and citizens. It directs the Collaboratory to focus on workforce development, education, economic growth, and environmental research, requiring state and local agencies to provide free access to infrastructure, personnel, and data for its projects. The bill sets specific funding rules, prohibiting university overhead fees on allocated funds and ensuring funds remain available until spent. An advisory group of legislators, university leaders, and public experts will guide research priorities and review reports, all while exempting advisory meetings from public record requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes higher education collaborative at Marshall University with dedicated funding, prohibits overhead fees, and explicitly prioritizes education as a core focus area for research and workforce development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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

HB 4037: Consolidate county school boards

HB 4037 requires West Virginia's 55 county school districts to consolidate into no more than 27 regional or area districts by July 1, 2029, addressing shared challenges like funding, geography, and population. The bill mandates the State Board of Education to study consolidation options and submit recommendations by October 31, 2026, with assistance from a newly created School District Unification Committee. This committee, composed of 11 members including school superintendents, teachers, and union representatives, must meet monthly to develop a transition plan. The State Board is also authorized to establish rules for the consolidation process to ensure orderly implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses funding challenges through consolidation to improve district efficiency and resource allocation, aligning with strengthening K-12 education structure.90% confidence

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

HB 4584: Market pay for Teachers

HB 4584 establishes a market-based pay enhancement for West Virginia teachers in counties where the regional median home price exceeds the state average. It calculates an annual lump-sum payment for teachers in those counties by comparing regional home prices (including contiguous border counties/states) to West Virginia's statewide median home price, then applying a multiplier to the county's average teacher salary. The State Board of Education determines this adjustment every five years starting in 2027, certifies the amount to the State Auditor, and payments are distributed annually as taxable income. This directly affects certified teachers in specific counties with higher regional cost-of-living compared to West Virginia's average, aiming to make salaries competitive with neighboring areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds for teacher pay increases in high-cost counties, boosting education budget spending.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides market-based pay enhancement for teachers in high-cost counties, increasing teacher compensation via salary adjustments tied to regional home prices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Teachers

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

HB 4105: To provide requirements relating to education of students and young adults about unplannned pregnancy options

HB 4105 requires West Virginia public schools and universities to provide information about adoption as an option for unplanned pregnancy whenever contraception or sexually transmitted infection (STI) topics are taught or discussed. It mandates that educational institutions include current adoption practices and state resources for adoption support during health education that covers these subjects. The bill integrates adoption information into existing health curricula without creating new standalone programs, aligning with the state's health content standards. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and supersedes conflicting laws.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of adoption information in health curricula, enhancing educational content on reproductive health within K-12 education.90% confidence

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 684: Relating to required courses of instruction for private, parochial, and church schools

SB 684 exempts private, parochial, and church schools in West Virginia from the state's requirement to teach specific courses, including state and U.S. history, civics, the U.S. Constitution, and government structure. This bill removes these schools from the curriculum mandates that apply to public schools for those subjects and from Celebrate Freedom Week obligations. As a result, private, parochial, and denominational schools will no longer be subject to these course requirements under state law. Public schools will continue to be required to follow the existing curriculum standards for these subjects.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves state curriculum mandates (history/civics) for private schools, restricting required educational content under K-12 policy95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice

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

HB 4701: Relating to the creation of the West Virginia Math & Science Teacher Scholarship Act

HB 4701 creates the West Virginia Math & Science Teacher Scholarship Act, providing debt relief to certified math, science, and special education teachers working in West Virginia public schools. Eligible teachers receive up to $2,000 after three years of service and an additional $2,000 after six years (capped at $4,000 total), contingent on holding a master's degree in their specialty field and meeting residency requirements. The program, administered by the state's education office, requires teachers to maintain employment in qualifying positions to receive funds. It will operate from January 1, 2027, through January 1, 2037, with a sunset provision.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides debt relief ($4k max) to math/science teachers via scholarships, supporting educator retention and professional development in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Student Financial Aid Teachers

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 552: Authorizing county boards of education to designate schools as rural anchor schools

SB 552 authorizes West Virginia county school boards to designate qualifying rural schools as "rural anchor schools," directly affecting low-enrollment schools in predominantly rural communities. To qualify, schools must meet specific criteria, including being the primary neighborhood school, having enrollment below state averages, and facing transportation or safety barriers if closed. The bill provides these schools with state funding based on a minimum 150-student enrollment for fixed costs (like utilities and staffing), regardless of actual enrollment, while requiring funds to be used only for operational costs, core staffing, or academic programs. County boards must report annually on enrollment, staffing, and fund usage to the state board.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funding for rural schools' fixed costs, directly supporting public education spending within budget management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state funding to rural schools meeting enrollment criteria to prevent closures, directly supporting K-12 access and funding for underserved communities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 83: Reducing number of days required for certain educators to apply for full-time employment

SB 83 reduces the required number of days substitute teachers must work in a school year to accrue seniority for full-time teaching positions, from 133 days to 80 days. This change applies specifically to non-retired substitute teachers seeking permanent, full-time roles, excluding retired educators. The bill modifies existing law to make seniority eligibility more accessible by lowering the employment threshold. This policy directly affects substitute educators in West Virginia school districts aiming for permanent teaching positions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationReduces substitute teacher seniority threshold from 133 to 80 days, making full-time educator roles more accessible and supporting career advancement for educators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 15, 2026

HB 4383: West Virginia Clean Air in Schools Act of 2026

HB 4383, the West Virginia Clean Air in Schools Act of 2026, requires all K-12 schools in West Virginia to install air quality monitors measuring CO₂, PM2.5, VOCs, and humidity by 2029. The bill mandates phased implementation: monitors in all elementary classrooms by 2027, 50% of middle/high school classrooms by 2028 (prioritizing special education and high-risk areas), and full coverage by 2029. Schools must publicly display real-time air quality data via a state-maintained dashboard and submit corrective action plans if pollution exceeds health standards. This directly affects every county school district operating K-12 facilities across West Virginia.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates air quality monitoring in all K-12 schools to improve indoor environment, directly supporting school infrastructure and student health within educational settings.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates monitoring of environmental pollutants (PM2.5, VOCs) in schools, advancing pollution control and environmental health protections per bill's requirements.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates air quality monitoring in schools to improve indoor air quality, a public health measure directly protecting student and staff health per bill's Health subject classification.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Student Health Air Quality

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

HB 4077: Remove standardized testing in public and private schools

HB 4077 would eliminate standardized testing requirements in all West Virginia public and private schools by directing the State Board of Education to stop administering such tests. The bill takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year and all subsequent years. This change would directly impact every student, teacher, and school administrator in the state by removing a longstanding assessment requirement. The policy shift specifically targets the administration of standardized tests, without specifying alternative evaluation methods.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves standardized testing requirement, an educational mandate per bill's explicit language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Testing & Assessment

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