Education

failed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2026

HB 4588: Relating to participating in the federal tax credit scholarship program

HB 4588 requires West Virginia's State Treasurer to participate in a federal tax credit program that allows individuals to receive tax credits for contributions to scholarship organizations. The bill mandates the Treasurer to annually identify and publish a list of qualified nonprofit scholarship organizations and eligible schools meeting federal and state requirements. Eligible schools must comply with West Virginia education laws, and students must be eligible for public school enrollment under federal criteria. Scholarship funds can cover elementary and secondary education expenses as defined by federal law, with the Treasurer accepting applications year-round for organization inclusion.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables tax-credit scholarships for K-12 students, expanding educational access options while requiring compliance with state education laws.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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failed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2026

HB 4573: Foster Youth Post-Secondary Transition Awareness Act

HB 4573 requires West Virginia high schools to provide foster youth (current or former foster care) with information about post-secondary education, job training, housing, healthcare, and independent-living support before graduation. The bill mandates school counselors and graduation coaches receive training on these resources and directs the state Department of Education to create and maintain a Foster Youth Resource Guide. County school districts must ensure eligible students receive this pre-graduation information. The law aims to improve transition planning for foster youth entering adulthood, without requiring disclosure of a student’s foster care status.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates schools to provide foster youth with post-secondary education resources, enhancing access and support for vulnerable students in K-12 transition.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 8, 2026

SB 804: Removing physical education requirements for certain middle and high school athletes

SB 804 exempts middle and high school students participating in extracurricular sports in "good standing" from mandatory physical education requirements. Specifically, students listed by their coach at the end of each sport season are not required to complete the standard PE classes for that school year (middle school: daily PE for one semester; high school: a full credit for graduation). The bill directly affects athletes who maintain coach-determined good standing in sports. It does not alter overall PE requirements but creates this specific exemption based on athletic participation. The change applies to students in grades 6-12 who meet the coach's criteria during their sport season.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves mandatory PE requirement for athletes, restricting curriculum standards and reducing required physical education components in K-12 education.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 8, 2026

SB 778: Relating to eligibility for homebound services for exceptional children

SB 778 amends West Virginia law to allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants, alongside physicians, to certify students with disabilities as eligible for homebound educational services. This change directly affects families of exceptional children who require homebound instruction due to injury or health conditions. The key provision removes the previous restriction requiring certification only by physicians, expanding who can authorize this service. The bill aims to streamline access to homebound education by broadening the pool of qualified medical professionals who can make this determination.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for homebound services by allowing nurse practitioners/physician assistants to certify, removing physician-only restriction and streamlining access for exceptional children in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands healthcare provider roles (NPs/PAs) to certify homebound services, improving access for children with health conditions by removing physician-only restriction.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 745: Relating to requirements for school nutrition programs

SB 745 prohibits specific food additives in West Virginia school meals, banning dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 starting August 1, 2025, and additional preservatives like BHT and artificial sweeteners starting August 1, 2027. It limits added sugars to no more than 5% of daily calories and requires a minimum fiber-to-carbohydrate ratio of 1 gram of fiber per 10 grams of carbs in school meals. Schools must post full ingredient lists for all breakfast and lunch menu items online. The bill directly affects all West Virginia public schools operating nutrition programs, aiming to improve meal nutritional standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires healthier school meals with banned additives and transparency, directly supporting student health and well-being within K-12 education.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 929: Relating to state board intervention into county school systems

SB 929, the "Taxpayer Transparency in Education Act," requires West Virginia county school boards to publish detailed annual financial statements within 120 days of each fiscal year. These statements must disclose all expenditures over $250 to individuals or firms, debts, school personnel pay, and budget estimates, either as legal ads or on public websites. County boards failing to submit these reports within 90 days face a State Auditor noncompliance notice, and after 60 days of noncompliance, they lose access to discretionary state education funds. The bill directly affects all 55 county school boards by mandating greater financial transparency for taxpayers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires financial transparency in school spending to ensure accountability, aligning with education funding oversight and protection goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 657: Creating Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act

SB 657 creates the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act, requiring West Virginia high school and middle school athletic programs to adopt concussion safety protocols and use specific safety equipment. The bill mandates schools to implement a Concussion Education, Prevention, and Response Plan by July 2026 and requires student athletes in football practices to wear impact-reducing soft-shell helmet covers attached to their helmets during collision-prone activities. It establishes the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Fund to help schools purchase safety equipment and includes protections ensuring helmet covers don’t void helmet warranties if properly attached. The law directly affects all student athletes in West Virginia public schools participating in interscholastic sports, with a specific focus on reducing head injury risks in football.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates concussion safety protocols and equipment for school sports, protecting student athletes within K-12 educational settings.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1024: Allowing rescission or reversal of school closure decisions through July 15

SB 1024 (2026 West Virginia Senate Bill) allows county school boards to reverse decisions closing public schools for the upcoming school year, provided the reversal occurs by July 15. The bill requires county boards to vote by majority at a public meeting, document the decision in minutes, and notify state education officials. If reversed, the school remains open, and the board must restore staffing, student assignments, transportation, and budgets. This applies to any school closure decision made prior to July 15 and does not require boards to reverse closures or change existing closure procedures. The bill directly affects county school boards and the schools, students, families, and staff impacted by closure decisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationReverses school closures, maintaining access, staffing, and budgets - directly supports K-12 educational continuity and stability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1044: Requiring Board of Education to promulgate rule that sets forth common graduation requirements

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates uniform graduation requirements and standardized skill certificates, enhancing consistency and student readiness for college/career pathways across all public high schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1077: Requiring vocational education agriculture programs be offered to all students

SB 1077 (West Virginia Senate Bill 1077) prevents county school boards from reducing funding for vocational agriculture programs during the 2027 fiscal year below what they spent in the current fiscal year. It directly affects county boards of education across West Virginia by requiring them to maintain existing funding levels for these programs. The bill’s key provision, added as §18-5-55 to the state code, aims to protect these programs from budget cuts during fiscal year 2027. It does not create new programs or require universal student enrollment, but rather safeguards existing vocational agriculture funding. This is a procedural funding protection measure, not a new educational mandate.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents defunding of vocational agriculture programs by mandating maintenance of current fiscal year funding levels, protecting budget allocation for this specific educational program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents funding cuts to vocational agriculture programs in K-12 schools, protecting existing educational offerings per §18-5-55.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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