SB 1020 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Allowing up to five educational leave days within definition of "excused absence"

This bill adds "educational leave days" to West Virginia's list of excused absences, allowing up to five days per school year for approved educational activities (like field trips or workshops). Parents must submit a note within three days explaining the purpose, and schools can reject days that don't meet state-defined criteria. It directly affects students, parents, and school staff managing attendance records. The bill also clarifies that 4-H, FFA, and similar activities already count toward the existing 10-day limit for school-approved activities, so they aren't subject to the new educational leave cap.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Last action Mar 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended from an Introduced Version to a Committee Substitute version, expanding the scope of who can submit educational leave notes and clarifying which absences count toward the 10-day excused absence limit. The changes also add language allowing school personnel to refuse counting certain days as educational leave if they don't meet state board rules, and clarifies how student organization activities are treated separately from the 10-day limit.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include guardians and custodians alongside parents for submitting educational leave documentation, and clarified that student organization activities (4-H, FFA, etc.) are excluded from the 10-day limit that applies to other excused absences.

REQUIREMENT

Added 'guardian, or custodian' to the list of individuals who can submit educational leave notes, expanding who is recognized as authorized to provide documentation.

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority for principals, designees, county attendance directors, or their assistants to refuse counting a day as educational leave if the explanation doesn't qualify under state board rules.

DEFINITION

Clarified that excused absences under paragraphs (E) and (H) - school/county-approved activities and college visits - are excluded from the 10-day limit that applies to other excused absences.

TECHNICAL

Added statutory citations (§18-8-4(a)(1)(B) and §18-8-4(a)(1)(I) of this code) to cross-references within the text for clarity.

Corrected a typo changing 'important of attendance' to 'important importance of attendance' in subsection (b)(2).

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2026

How they voted

33–0

Passed

Total votes 33

Feb 26, 2026

D Democratic2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican31

31 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

To Education

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

To House Education

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Roll No. 247)

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

To Education

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor