This bill requests that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct a study to estimate the actual costs of providing early childhood care and education in West Virginia. The study aims to determine whether current subsidy reimbursement rates accurately reflect the true cost of quality care across different program types, age groups, and geographic regions. If completed, the findings will be reported to government, health, and education committees by December 31, 2026, to help inform future budget decisions and subsidy policies. The bill directly affects state officials responsible for child care funding and policy, as well as early childhood care providers who receive state subsidies.
HJR 35 proposes adding a constitutional amendment requiring West Virginia to provide free early childhood education for all children in the state. The amendment would create a new Section 8 in Article XII of the state constitution, stating that "the Legislature shall provide, by general law, for a thorough and efficient system of free schools including early childhood education." If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, this would establish a constitutional right to early childhood education, directly affecting all West Virginia children and requiring the legislature to fund and implement such programs. The resolution is currently in committee referral after its February 2026 introduction.
HB 5126 clarifies that West Virginia's Lottery Education Fund and Excess Lottery Fund can be directly used to support early childhood education programs for 4-year-olds across the state. The bill requires county school boards to provide these programs, mandating at least 48,000 minutes of instruction annually (or 1,500 minutes weekly) for eligible children. It explicitly authorizes the use of lottery funds for this purpose, removing ambiguity in current funding rules. This policy change directly affects county education programs and ensures dedicated state funding for early childhood education initiatives.
HB 5478 establishes a statewide pilot program distributing free, internet-free learning touchpads to eligible preschoolers in West Virginia to improve kindergarten readiness. The program targets children aged 3-4 who qualify based on family income (at or below federal poverty level), participation in programs like WIC or Head Start, or other risk factors identified by the state. Each touchpad kit includes preloaded early-learning apps, headphones, a protective case, and parent guides with daily activity suggestions and text-message tips. The West Virginia Department of Education will administer the program, partner with community organizations, and evaluate its impact on readiness metrics annually, while ensuring compliance with child privacy laws.
Senate Bill 468 requires West Virginia's Bureau for Family Assistance to annually increase base payment rates for childcare providers starting September 2026, adjusting them based on the Consumer Price Index (inflation rate) to keep pace with rising costs. It also mandates a study beginning August 2026 on implementing performance-based contracting - where providers might earn incentives for quality outcomes like improved kindergarten readiness - and report findings to the Legislative Oversight Commission by December 15, 2026. The bill directly affects licensed childcare providers receiving state funding through the federal Child Care & Development Fund. These changes aim to improve affordability, availability, and quality of childcare services as required by federal guidelines.
HB 4659 transfers oversight of most childcare services in West Virginia from the Department of Human Services to the West Virginia Department of Education. It requires residential child-care centers, day-care centers, and family day-care facilities to obtain licenses, certifications, or registrations from the Department of Education instead of the previous agency. The bill also updates requirements for evacuation plans, facility registrations, and exemptions (like public schools or summer camps) while maintaining existing standards for care. This change directly affects childcare providers operating under state oversight, shifting their regulatory authority to the education department.
SB 687 prohibits obscene materials (as defined by West Virginia law) from being present in or within 2,500 feet of public school facilities, including libraries, classrooms, and buildings for all public schools (pre-K through 12), public charter schools, and specific special education centers. School officials must remove known obscene materials and report suspected exposure of children to such materials; failure to report can result in misdemeanor charges. The bill also bans using school funds for materials promoting sexual activity to youth or distributing obscene materials to minors near schools, and requires the State Superintendent to establish complaint procedures with civil remedies available for negligence.
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.
