SB 176 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Increasing non-traditional instruction days for WV teachers

SB 176 amends West Virginia law to increase the number of non-traditional instruction days that count toward the required 180 instructional days from five to ten days per school year. This change directly affects West Virginia school districts and teachers, allowing counties to use up to five days for alternative instruction during closures (e.g., weather-related school shutdowns) and up to five additional days for teacher-led instructional improvement activities without students present. The bill specifies that these days count as full instructional days for both student calendar requirements and teacher employment terms. It does not change the total instructional time needed but provides greater flexibility in scheduling closures and professional development.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 4, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to increase the number of allowable non-traditional instruction days from five to ten days when schools close due to weather or emergencies. It also added new definitions for 'out-of-calendar days' and 'co-curricular activities,' introduced new requirements for public meetings and state board rules, and clarified that out-of-calendar days cannot be used to offset lost instructional days.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to allow counties to utilize up to ten alternative instruction days instead of five, and new procedural requirements were added for calendar formulation and rulemaking.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the maximum number of non-traditional instruction days allowed when schools are closed from five to ten days.

Added a requirement that county boards must hold at least two public meetings to discuss the school calendar with parents, teachers, and community members.

Added a mandate for the state board to promulgate rules defining co-curricular activities and time limits.

Added a prohibition preventing out-of-calendar days from being used to offset the loss of separate instructional days.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'out-of-calendar day' to clarify it is a non-paid day not part of the minimum employment term.

Updated the definition of 'co-curricular activities' to include a specific reference to the code section.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a requirement for the state board to grant waivers to counties that cannot meet the 180-day requirement due to disasters.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

To Finance

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

To Education

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

To Education then Finance

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors