Establishing the West Virginia TEACH Scholarship Program

HB 3034 establishes the West Virginia TEACH Scholarship Program to provide financial aid for child-care workers pursuing degrees in early childhood education at state community colleges. The program targets workers at eligible facilities (caring for six or more children) and requires recipients to work in West Virginia child-care settings for at least two years after graduation. Administered by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, it aims to address staffing shortages in child-care by making higher education more accessible. The bill mandates annual reporting on program outcomes to track its impact on workforce participation and child-care quality.