HB 5683 requires West Virginia's State Board of Education to establish minimum graduation standards for public high schools. These standards may include specific course credits, competency demonstrations, or assessments to ensure students are prepared for college or careers. The bill also mandates that every graduate receive a certificate of proficiency detailing their skills, readiness for employment, and any completed academic major. This bill directly affects all public high school students in West Virginia and aims to standardize graduation requirements across the state.
HB 5583, the West Virginia Seal of Civic Literacy Act, creates a formal recognition for high school students who demonstrate exceptional civics knowledge. It directly affects public high school students in West Virginia who complete required civics coursework and achieve specific benchmarks: scoring 90% or higher on the state civics assessment, earning a 4 or 5 on AP U.S. Government/History exams, or earning 90% or higher in dual-credit government/history courses. The seal will be affixed to diplomas or transcripts as an official academic distinction, promoting civic engagement without changing existing graduation requirements. This program aims to motivate deeper understanding of government structures, rights, and responsibilities through tangible recognition.
SB 1044 requires the West Virginia Board of Education to create uniform graduation requirements for all public high school students. It mandates specific pathways - Academic (college-prep), Workforce, Career and Technical Education/Skilled Trades, and Military - and establishes standardized certificates of proficiency detailing each graduate's skills, readiness for employment, or college readiness. The bill directly affects all West Virginia public high schools and students by replacing inconsistent local requirements with state-mandated standards across these four pathways. It also requires schools to issue certificates of proficiency alongside diplomas, specifying the student's completed program of study and relevant skills.
SB 567 prohibits county and charter school boards from charging Hope Scholarship students fees for extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, or arts programs. It also modifies the academic requirement for students in individualized instructional programs by allowing a certified teacher to review the student's academic work annually instead of requiring standardized test scores. The bill ensures these students can access extracurricular services without additional costs while maintaining accountability through annual teacher reviews reported to county superintendents. This directly affects Hope Scholarship students and school boards managing the program in West Virginia.
West Virginia's SB 41, the "Standardized Testing Choice Act," permits students in public schools to take the Classical Learning Test (CLT) as an alternative to the ACT or SAT for college admissions and financial aid. Public colleges must accept CLT scores for admissions, and students need a minimum equivalent score of 19 (ACT scale) on the CLT or other tests to qualify for financial aid. The bill requires public school districts to offer the CLT, ACT, or SAT to students in grades 9-12 and the CLT10, Pre-ACT, or PSAT to students in grades 9-10, with districts eligible for reimbursement of related costs. This policy directly affects high school students, public colleges, and school districts across West Virginia.
HB 4794 requires all high school students in West Virginia to pass a test on the U.S. Constitution to graduate. The State Board of Education must create the test, which mandates an 85% passing score and makes content publicly available. Students who fail can retake the test weekly until they meet the threshold. This applies to all high school students in grades 9-12 and takes effect July 1, 2026. The bill aims to ensure graduating seniors demonstrate foundational knowledge of constitutional principles.
HB 4953 requires all West Virginia high school students to pass a civics examination and the U.S. Naturalization Examination as a prerequisite for graduation. This bill directly affects all public, private, parochial, and denominational high school students in West Virginia who are nearing graduation. Key provisions mandate that schools teach U.S. government history, civics, and the Constitution (as outlined in §18-2-9), provide standardized tests aligned with these standards, and make the two exams mandatory for graduation. The bill does not change existing curriculum requirements but adds the passing of these specific exams as a new graduation requirement.
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.
SB 69 requires West Virginia's public colleges and universities to accept the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a valid standardized test for college admissions, alongside the ACT and SAT. It directly affects students applying to these institutions who take the CLT, ensuring they cannot be forced to take additional tests if they meet the CLT score requirements. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include the CLT in the list of accepted tests, preventing institutions from requiring alternate assessments for admission. This change provides more testing options for applicants without altering the core admission criteria or requirements.
This bill, SB 216 (Restoring Private Schools Act of 2026), clarifies and updates requirements for private, parochial, and church schools in West Virginia. It mandates these schools to maintain attendance and immunization records, comply with fire/safety inspections, and establish crisis plans. The key provision requires all such schools to administer annually a nationally normed standardized test (matching public school grade/subject requirements) with participation rates equal to public schools, while allowing special education schools alternative assessment methods. Schools must share test results with parents and the state education department upon request. The bill preserves schools' autonomy over curriculum and instruction but formalizes testing and recordkeeping standards.
