Education (Teachers)

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

HB 4578: To provide more local control over educational decisionmaking, differentiation of funding for counties, and to address operational efficiencies within education.

HB 4578 amends West Virginia education code sections related to teacher contracts and employment, directly affecting school districts and teachers. It specifies that all teachers must sign county board contracts detailing salary, establishes probationary (1-3 years) and continuing contract statuses, and requires written notice with a hearing for termination after three years. The bill clarifies procedures for dismissal due to lack of need, including preferred reemployment lists based on seniority, and ensures released time for teachers serving in the Legislature. It does not address funding differentiation or operational efficiencies as implied in its title, focusing solely on teacher contract terms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies teacher contract terms, probationary periods, and termination procedures with hearings, providing due process protections for educators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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

HB 4693: To declassify Community and Technical Education (“CTE”) teaching positions to allow for counties to provide additional funding for certain positions.

HB 4693 declassifies Community and Technical Education (CTE) teaching positions at community colleges and trades-based high school instructors teaching CTE courses, allowing counties to target additional funding to specific roles in critical need. Currently, all CTE positions are grouped together, requiring county funding to be distributed across all positions; this bill removes that classification barrier. The bill maintains existing state funding for these positions while enabling counties to add supplemental funds to high-demand roles like skilled trades or healthcare education. This change aims to help fill staffing shortages in key CTE fields by letting counties offer targeted financial incentives without reducing state support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables counties to target additional funding toward critical CTE roles, promoting efficient fiscal management within education budgeting while maintaining state funding.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables targeted county funding for critical CTE roles by removing classification barriers, maintaining state funds while improving resource allocation for education positions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 16, 2026

HB 4453: Regarding Teacher Pay

HB 4453 adjusts West Virginia's teacher salary schedule to increase pay for educators with 35 to 45 years of experience, directly affecting classroom teachers in the state. The bill updates the existing salary table to reflect higher compensation for these experienced teachers, while maintaining the current $600 annual supplement for teachers with 20+ years of experience. It also specifies that math teachers certified in their subject and teaching math 60%+ of the time will count as having three additional years of experience for salary purposes. The changes apply to the 2026-2027 school year and beyond, modifying how experience years are calculated for salary determination.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases teacher pay for experienced educators (35-45 years), directly supporting teacher compensation in K-12 education per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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

HB 4905: Removing fees teachers have to pay in order to obtain any teaching license, certification, or additional continuing education credit hours (reporting fee) to the state Board of Education

HB 4905 removes all fees West Virginia teachers pay to the state for obtaining or renewing teaching licenses, certifications, and registering continuing education credit hours. The bill requires the West Virginia Department of Education to eliminate these fees by January 30, 2027, and to reimburse teachers for tuition and fees related to courses taken for certification renewal or additional endorsements in subject areas with teacher shortages. Reimbursement is capped at 15 semester hours per teacher per year for either purpose. This directly affects West Virginia teachers seeking to maintain or expand their teaching credentials through state-recognized pathways.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill removes state fees for teachers and mandates reimbursement for certification courses, providing financial relief and funding for teacher certification (addressing shortages), aligning with tax relief and essential program support.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves teacher licensing/continuing education fees and mandates reimbursement for certification renewal, directly reducing financial burdens on educators and supporting teacher retention in shortage areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Teachers

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

HB 4940: Relating to teacher fundraising

HB 4940 ensures West Virginia teachers can use modern online fundraising platforms (like GoFundMe) to collect money for school-related activities without county board or school administrator interference. The bill amends state law to explicitly state that no county official may prevent teachers from using "crowd-sourcing or other meaningful current methods of fundraising." Schools must still publicly announce the fundraising purpose and designate the funds before starting, but the bill removes barriers to these methods. This directly affects K-12 teachers seeking to raise money for classroom supplies, field trips, or recognition programs through contemporary channels. The law does not change how funds are spent - only how teachers may legally collect them.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes county interference in teacher fundraising, enabling modern platforms for school activity funding, directly supporting educator resource access and school program sustainability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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

HB 4658: To add to the teacher pay scale the increments of Bachelor’s Plus 30 and Master’s Plus 60 and add that amount in the appropriate increment.

HB 4658 would add a new pay increment for teachers with a Master's degree plus 60 credits (or equivalent) to West Virginia's teacher salary schedule, which currently only includes increments up to Master's plus 15. The bill establishes a base salary amount for this category and an additional $69 per year of experience (up to 35 years), matching the structure of existing increments like "A.B. + 30" and "M.A. + 15." This change would directly increase pay for teachers meeting this specific qualification, including those with a Master's degree and 60 additional credits beyond the degree. The bill does not affect the existing "Bachelor’s Plus 30" increment, which is already listed in the current salary schedule.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds Master's +60 pay increment, increasing teacher compensation for advanced qualifications, directly supporting educators through salary structure updates.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases teacher pay through new salary increment (Master's +60), directly advancing wage standards for educators per bill's pay structure expansion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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

HB 4136: To require the Department of Education to alter who can certify homeschool portfolios or review them

HB 4136 would require teachers reviewing homeschool portfolios to have specific training in English, math, and science. Currently, any certified teacher can review these portfolios, but this bill adds a mandatory training requirement for reviewers in those core subjects. The change directly affects homeschooling families in West Virginia, as their children's annual academic assessments must now be conducted by teachers meeting this new standard. The Department of Education would need to update its guidelines to implement this requirement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds mandatory subject-specific training for homeschool portfolio reviewers, strengthening assessment quality standards in K-12 education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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

HB 4697: Require that any student in the 11th or 12th grade, who has been placed in a “free/elective/assistant” period, be informed of online college course opportunities available for them

HB 4697 requires West Virginia high schools to inform 11th and 12th grade students placed in "free" or "teacher-assistant" periods about available online college course opportunities. This applies specifically to students not enrolled in a regular class during those periods, such as during unscheduled free time or while assisting teachers. Schools must provide information on accessible online college courses but do not need to guarantee enrollment or cover costs. The bill aims to expand access to college-level coursework for high school students in non-traditional class settings. It adds this requirement to existing education code provisions without altering current course mandates.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by requiring schools to inform students about online college courses, providing more higher education opportunities during high school without mandating costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Teachers

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

HB 4946: Authorizing a pilot program for a four day school week

HB 4946 authorizes West Virginia counties to test a four-day school week through a two-year pilot program approved by the State Board of Education. It requires counties to submit detailed plans ensuring students receive sufficient instructional time (meeting state standards), preserving teacher planning/collaboration time (at least 40 minutes daily for elementary), and maintaining school calendar approvals. The program must focus solely on improving student learning, with the State Board reviewing proposals to confirm they align with educational goals. This affects all West Virginia public school counties seeking to experiment with reduced school days while maintaining academic requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes four-day week pilot with requirements for sufficient instructional time, teacher planning, and learning improvement - directly advancing K-12 education structure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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

HB 4973: Relating to raising the state minimum salary for teachers to $50,000 beginning in school year 2026-2027

HB 4973 raises West Virginia's state minimum teacher salary to $50,000 beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, affecting all public school teachers across the state. The bill updates the salary schedule to guarantee a minimum base salary of $50,000 for every teacher regardless of experience or degree level, while also adding a $2,000 annual increase for all teachers. Additionally, teachers providing math instruction or special education services receive an extra $1,200 minimum salary increase. This amendment to West Virginia Code §18A-4-2 directly changes the state's minimum pay structure for educators starting in 2026-2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state budget reallocation for teacher salary increases, directly funding public education through higher appropriations and annual salary adjustments.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates minimum teacher salary increase to $50,000 with annual raises, directly supporting educator compensation in K-12 education per topic description.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRaises minimum teacher salary to $50,000 with annual increases, directly increasing wages for educators under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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