SB 246 establishes a minimum net enrollment of 1,200 students for calculating school funding in West Virginia counties. It directly affects all county school districts, particularly those with low enrollment, by requiring their net enrollment (counting students in grades K-12, special education, and specific programs) to be adjusted upward for funding calculations if below 1,200. The bill uses a specific formula to determine the adjusted enrollment, including a 10% increase and a cap at 1,400, while exempting counties from penalties for staffing ratios in the 2026-2027 school year due to this adjustment. This change ensures smaller counties receive a baseline level of state aid based on enrollment.
This bill creates the West Virginia TEACH Scholarship Program to help child-care workers pursue higher education. It provides scholarships covering tuition and mandatory fees (up to the average cost at eligible institutions) for associate or bachelor's degrees in early childhood education at West Virginia public community colleges or universities. Recipients must agree to work in an eligible child-care facility in the state for a specified period after graduation. The program aims to address West Virginia's child-care crisis and boost workforce participation by making education affordable for current and future child-care providers.
HB 4485 allows public school and higher education employees in West Virginia to voluntarily donate accrued sick leave to coworkers taking maternity leave. The bill establishes a formal leave donation program where employees can transfer personal leave days to colleagues experiencing maternity leave or a catastrophic medical emergency, with specific rules: donors may transfer unlimited days to spouses but face limits for others, and unused donated days revert to the donor after the leave period ends. It prohibits using donated leave for retirement credit or insurance extensions and requires voluntary participation without coercion. This policy directly affects educators in K-12 schools and colleges who qualify for personal leave under state law.
SB 442 creates a new "homeless education coordinator" position in West Virginia counties designated as "urban" by the State Board of Education. This position will directly assist homeless children and youth in accessing and staying in school by addressing barriers to attendance and enrollment. The bill amends education law to clarify the coordinator's role in supporting homeless students, ensuring they receive necessary services under federal and state education requirements. The coordinator will work within designated urban counties to implement strategies that prevent school disruption for homeless students.
This bill requires West Virginia's State Treasurer to participate in a federal tax credit scholarship program. Specifically, the Treasurer must annually identify and publish a list of qualified nonprofit scholarship organizations operating in the state by December 1st, accept applications year-round for inclusion on this list, and certify the list for federal submission. It defines eligible schools (meeting existing WV requirements) and students (eligible for public school enrollment), allowing scholarship funds to cover standard K-12 education expenses under federal rules. The bill directly affects the State Treasurer's office, scholarship organizations seeking to participate, and students receiving scholarships under the program.
HB 4918 requires West Virginia public schools to provide a minimum of 180 instructional days per year, with specific daily minute requirements: 315 minutes for kindergarten through fifth grade, 330 minutes for sixth through eighth grade, and 345 minutes for ninth through twelfth grade. Counties may extend the school day by at least 30 minutes to meet the 180-day requirement, using the extra time for up to five days of weather-related closures or teacher professional development. The bill also mandates that noninstructional days total 20 annually, including holidays, election day, and designated days for staff training and school preparation. This directly affects all West Virginia public school districts and their annual calendars.
HB 4168 clarifies West Virginia's school vaccination requirements by streamlining medical exemptions and ensuring vaccine access. It requires licensed healthcare providers (physicians, PAs, or NPs) to provide written statements for children with medical contraindications to specific vaccines, while protecting these providers from penalties. The bill mandates county health departments to provide free vaccines for children from families unable to afford them, and specifies that the State Health Officer must review exemption requests based on medical evidence. This amendment does not change the list of required vaccines but refines the exemption process and access to immunizations for low-income families.
HB 4708 clarifies conditions for substitute teachers serving extended periods in West Virginia schools. It allows substitutes assigned to the same classroom for over half a grading period to remain until the grading period ends, provided the principal certifies the regular teacher has prepared them or is returning. The bill also creates a process for counties to hire retired teachers as substitutes in critical shortage areas without affecting retirement benefits (unless they start working in the same fiscal year they retired, in which case they lose annuity reserve benefits for that year). Additionally, all long-term substitutes must receive training on IEP and 504 plans upon hiring.
SB 657 creates the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act, requiring West Virginia high school and middle school athletic programs to adopt concussion safety protocols and use specific safety equipment. The bill mandates schools to implement a Concussion Education, Prevention, and Response Plan by July 2026 and requires student athletes in football practices to wear impact-reducing soft-shell helmet covers attached to their helmets during collision-prone activities. It establishes the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Fund to help schools purchase safety equipment and includes protections ensuring helmet covers don’t void helmet warranties if properly attached. The law directly affects all student athletes in West Virginia public schools participating in interscholastic sports, with a specific focus on reducing head injury risks in football.
SB 101 creates a new position for a "homeless education coordinator" in West Virginia counties designated as "urban" by the state board. This coordinator will directly assist homeless students and families in accessing school services and ensuring consistent attendance. The bill requires counties with this position to implement support systems for homeless students, including helping them enroll, stay in school, and address barriers like transportation or housing instability. The policy change specifically targets homeless students in designated urban counties, focusing on practical support rather than altering general attendance rules.
