SB 504, the West Virginia Rural School Protection Act, prevents the closure or consolidation of qualifying rural schools by requiring county boards to follow strict new procedures. It applies to schools in counties with under 100 people per square mile, those causing students to exceed 15 road miles or 30 minutes one-way transportation, or the sole school in an area. Key requirements include a detailed impact statement (showing transportation times, enrollment trends, and cost comparisons), a two-thirds board vote, and voter approval via statewide election or petition-triggered referendum. The bill also mandates mitigation plans for affected students and creates a state funding weight to support rural schools. These changes aim to preserve rural school access while ensuring thorough community review before closures.
HB 4849 allows county school superintendents or school improvement committees to directly request emergency funding from the School Building Authority to repair safety hazards in school buildings caused by natural events, such as floods or landslides. The School Building Authority must quickly assess the hazard and begin a process to hire contractors for the repairs. If the repair cost is less than 50% of the school's value as determined by the Comprehensive Education Facilities Plan, the Authority must prioritize funding to preserve the existing building. This bill directly affects West Virginia county school districts and the School Building Authority in addressing urgent infrastructure risks.
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.
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.
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.
SB 554 establishes an enrollment stabilizer mechanism to help West Virginia public school districts plan budgets more predictably by smoothing out year-to-year changes in student enrollment. The bill requires school funding calculations to use the highest of three options: actual recent enrollment, 98% of the prior year's enrollment, or a three-year average of enrollment. It also creates a rural stability add-on for qualifying rural counties experiencing significant enrollment volatility, allowing adjustments to the stabilizer for geographic isolation and local funding capacity. This bill directly affects all 55 West Virginia county school boards, with special protections for rural districts, without increasing the total state funding amount for the basic school support program.
SB 162 requires the West Virginia Board of Education to create a rule (with input from the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy) governing concussion protocols, education, and prevention for school athletic activities. The rule will apply to all school sports teams, youth sports leagues using school facilities, and activities regulated by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. Schools must then adopt a specific Concussion Education, Prevention, and Response Plan based on this rule, covering who receives training and how to handle concussions. This bill directly affects schools, athletic staff, and youth sports participants on school grounds.
This bill defines a "critical vacancy" as a teaching position essential for student success, safety, and compliance with certification standards. It requires school districts to have certified staff fill these vacancies immediately - without waiting for permanent hires - by assigning them to the relevant classroom. The bill also establishes a process for recruiting new teachers through posted critical need positions, temporary employment of recent graduates, and optional financial incentives like signing bonuses.
SB 619, the Stop the Bleed Act, requires West Virginia public schools to implement bleeding control programs starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates schools to place bleeding control kits (containing tourniquets, bandages, gauze, gloves, and DHS/ACS instructional materials) in accessible locations, train staff every other year on wound control techniques, and integrate bleeding control education into high school curricula for grades 9-12. The bill also requires annual kit inspections, post-use restocking, and provides civil immunity for school personnel using kits unless gross negligence occurs. Funding may come from private donations or legislative appropriations. This law directly affects all West Virginia county school districts and their students and staff.
HB 4438 requires all West Virginia schools and school contractors to conduct background checks on applicants for positions involving direct contact with children. It mandates that applicants provide written consent for schools to verify their employment history, including any past abuse investigations, disciplinary actions, or license suspensions related to misconduct. Schools must review this information using a standardized form from the education department and confirm the applicant’s employment eligibility before hiring. Violations, such as providing false information, can result in denied employment or professional discipline.
