Education (School Choice)

passed · West Virginia · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 536: Relating to qualifications for serving on certain academic boards

This bill establishes the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board and sets specific qualifications for its appointed voting members. It requires board members to be state citizens with experience in public or nonprofit governance, school leadership, or education law, while also mandating geographic diversity and limiting political party representation to no more than three members. The legislation also creates conflict-of-interest rules that prevent appointments for individuals currently employed by charter schools or companies serving them, and it defines the board's duties including authorizing charter schools, investigating complaints, and conducting audits.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes professional charter school board with qualified members to improve governance and oversight of educational institutions85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 909: Modernizing educational programs and technologies

This bill, titled the Future-Ready Education Act, aims to modernize educational programs and technologies in West Virginia to better prepare students for future workforce needs. It allows local school districts to enter multi-year contracts for educational materials that include technology licensing, provided these contracts offer significant fiscal savings and include a cancellation clause. The legislation extends the Mountain State Digital Literacy Project to include grades 9-12 and adds support for reading, mathematics, science, and career-technical education. Additionally, it authorizes the state to retain $7.1 million from the 2026-2027 school year budget to fund high-quality professional training in the science of reading for kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers, with voluntary participation allowed for public charter school educators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal savings through multi-year contracts and extends digital literacy program, indicating support for efficient budget management and funding educational technology.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill modernizes educational programs and technology, expands digital literacy to grades 9-12, and allows multi-year contracts for educational materials to improve student preparation for workforce needs.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill modernizes educational technology programs, expands digital literacy to grades 9-12, and enables technology licensing contracts to prepare students for future workforce needs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice

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

HB 5124: Relating to the eligibility of nonpublic schools and education service providers to participate in the Hope Scholarship Program

HB 5124 amends West Virginia law to establish requirements for nonpublic schools and education service providers (like tutoring centers) seeking to accept funds from the Hope Scholarship Program. It requires these providers to submit participation notices, provide expense receipts to parents, avoid refunding scholarship funds improperly, pass background checks for staff, and for schools, submit annual accreditation proof and enrollment data. The bill explicitly states providers cannot be forced to change their admission policies, curriculum, or hiring practices to accept scholarship students. This directly affects nonpublic schools and educational service organizations that wish to participate in the program by receiving scholarship funds for eligible students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by enabling nonpublic schools/tutoring centers to participate in Hope Scholarship Program via clear eligibility requirements, increasing parental choice in K-12 education options.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice Student Financial Aid

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Feb 21, 2026

SB 1051: Creating Charter School Revolving Loan Fund

SB 1051 creates a Charter School Revolving Loan Fund to provide low-interest loans specifically for public charter school facility projects (like building or renovating school buildings) in West Virginia. The fund is administered by the Professional Charter School Board, with loan repayments recycled back into the fund to support future projects. The bill requires the Board to establish rules for the fund's operation and mandates that initial loans be distributed during the 2027 fiscal year, pending state appropriations. This directly affects public charter schools seeking facility funding and the Professional Charter School Board as the fund administrator.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded revolving loan program for charter school facilities, directing government spending toward education infrastructure with recycled repayments.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates revolving loan fund for charter school facility projects (building/renovating), directly providing financial support for K-12 infrastructure and expanding educational access through facility funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 5089: Relating to public school acceptance of student transcripts or other credentials

HB 5089 requires West Virginia public schools to accept transcripts from all types of schools (including homeschools, charter schools, private schools, and Hope Scholarship programs) when students enroll or re-enroll. It mandates that public schools record the class, grade, and source (e.g., "homeschool" or "charter school") directly on the student's public school transcript. Schools must also submit annual demographic reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability (LOCEA) detailing re-enrolling students' backgrounds and prior educational settings. This bill directly affects students transferring between different school types and public schools receiving those students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by requiring public schools to accept transcripts from diverse school types (homeschools, charters, private) and record source, promoting inclusive K-12 enrollment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 25, 2026

SB 1017: Establishing Charter School Direct Loan Program and Charter School Credit Enhancement Program

SB 1017 establishes two financing programs under the West Virginia Economic Development Authority to support public charter schools. The Charter School Direct Loan Program provides loans for charter school startup, operations, facility acquisition, or improvements, while the Charter School Credit Enhancement Program helps schools secure better loan terms by reducing lender risk. Qualifying charter schools - those meeting authority-set standards and designated by the Economic Development Authority - can access these programs, with priority given to rural school development. The bill creates specific mechanisms for loan administration, debt service reserves, and project definitions (including facilities and capital equipment) without altering existing charter school governance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates financing programs to fund charter school operations/facilities, directly supporting school funding and access for K-12 charter schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

passed both · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2026

HB 5453: To modify the school aid funding formula.

HB 5453 modifies West Virginia's school funding formula, shifting to a block grant of $6,100 per student for county school districts starting in 2029-2030 (with a minimum 1,200-student threshold per county), while public charter schools receive $8,600 per student. It creates a "Supplemental School Aid Fund" to provide additional per-pupil funding for Tier II ($3,050) and Tier III special needs students beginning in 2029-2030. School districts may also request supplemental funding for specific needs like transportation, vocational centers, or pilot programs through this fund. The bill requires annual oversight reports by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and defines "maladministration" as financial mismanagement that could trigger funding restrictions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies funding formula to increase per-student allocation ($6,100-$8,600) and adds supplemental fund for special needs students ($3,050), advancing school funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 1034: Increasing amount of funding counties receive for HOPE Scholarship enrollments

This bill ensures county school boards receive funding for students who qualify for West Virginia's Hope Scholarship but choose not to use it. Specifically, if a student isn't enrolled in a public school but is eligible for the scholarship (and declines it), the county board gets the same funding they would receive if the student attended a public school. The funding comes from the Hope Scholarship Program Fund and applies to students residing in the county. This change directly affects county school budgets and students who opt out of the scholarship program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnsures counties receive existing Hope Scholarship funds for eligible students who decline private options, maintaining public education budget allocation without new taxes.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill preserves K-12 public school funding by ensuring counties receive allocated funds for eligible students who decline Hope Scholarships but aren't enrolled in public schools, directly strengthening school district finances.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding Student Financial Aid

Track

passed both · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2026

HB 5412: Future Ready Education Act

The Future Ready Education Act allows West Virginia school districts to enter multi-year contracts for educational technology with a technology licensing component, provided they document fiscal savings and include a 30-day cancellation clause. It extends the Mountain State Digital Project to cover grades 9-12 and adds tutoring in reading, math, science, and career-technical education. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, all kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers must complete training in the science of reading, with public charter school educators permitted to voluntarily participate. The bill directly affects school districts, K-5 teachers, and students in public schools across West Virginia.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires fiscal savings documentation for tech contracts, promoting responsible budget management within education funding allocation85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends digital project to grades 9-12, adds subject tutoring, mandates teacher training - directly enhances educational access, student programs, and educator support.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEnables school tech contracts, extends digital project to grades 9-12, and mandates tech-related teacher training, advancing educational technology access and integration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 5647: Relating to creating the Open and Equal Opportunities in Student Activities Act.

HB 5647, the "Open and Equal Opportunities in Student Activities Act," allows homeschooled students, Hope Scholarship participants, and students at nonpublic schools to join extracurricular activities - including sports - at public or nonpublic schools that are members of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. This applies when their own school doesn’t offer the activity or isn’t a commission member. Students must register with their county school board, pay standard fees, follow school rules, and be covered by the school’s insurance. The bill clarifies participation doesn’t guarantee a spot on a team or activity, and students transferring mid-year follow standard transfer protocols.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by enabling homeschoolers/nonpublic students to join public school activities, directly aligning with 'expands educational access' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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