This bill protects West Virginia public school employees from job penalties for expressing personal opinions online or in public. It prohibits school districts and supervisors from taking disciplinary action, such as termination or demotion, based on social media posts or public comments. The law specifically states that slander or libel claims cannot be used as a basis for employment consequences. The bill aims to prevent retaliation against educators for their free speech outside of work duties.
HB 5434 creates a two-year moratorium on school closures or consolidations in West Virginia counties, directly affecting county school boards making such decisions. The bill requires county boards to prepare written reasons and impact statements detailing effects on students (including transportation time), finances, enrollment capacity, staff, and communities before proceeding. It mandates public hearings with specific notice requirements and input from school improvement councils, and pauses closures related to optional emergency levy elections. The moratorium allows time for revising school funding formulas while ensuring transparent, data-driven closure decisions.
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.
HB 5043 increases the minimum monthly salary for West Virginia school service personnel by $900, effective July 1, 2023-2027. It directly affects school service employees working more than 3.5 hours daily (with half-pay for shorter hours), setting new minimums across experience-based pay grades (A-H) in the State Minimum Pay Scale. The bill amends existing law to establish these higher salary levels for all school service personnel, with specific amounts varying by years of experience. This policy change updates compensation without altering eligibility or funding mechanisms.
SB 998 creates a loan repayment program targeting mental health professionals who treat children and adolescents in West Virginia. It directly affects licensed providers in fields like clinical psychologists, social workers, and nurse practitioners who meet specific eligibility criteria. The program repays student loans annually based on 12 consecutive months of full-time employment in the state, with a maximum of 10 years of repayment. To qualify, applicants must hold a West Virginia license, have eligible student loans in good standing, and maintain full-time employment in the designated field.
HB 5248 creates a statewide initiative to recruit minorities, males, and individuals from rural, isolated, or impoverished areas into public education careers in West Virginia. The bill requires the State Board of Education and county school boards to develop outreach programs (including informational materials and website content) about teacher preparation programs. It also establishes a scholarship fund to support individuals from these underrepresented groups pursuing teaching careers, with academic ability as the primary selection criterion. The scholarship aims to address teacher shortages by incentivizing new educators from these specific demographics.
The Future Ready Education Act allows West Virginia school districts to enter multi-year contracts for educational technology with a technology licensing component, provided they document fiscal savings and include a 30-day cancellation clause. It extends the Mountain State Digital Project to cover grades 9-12 and adds tutoring in reading, math, science, and career-technical education. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, all kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers must complete training in the science of reading, with public charter school educators permitted to voluntarily participate. The bill directly affects school districts, K-5 teachers, and students in public schools across West Virginia.
SB 801 increases state funding for West Virginia school districts by raising the required ratios of professional educators and support staff per 1,000 students. Specifically, it adjusts the calculation for the "basic foundation program" to require higher ratios (e.g., increasing professional educators from 72.75 to 72.75+ per 1,000 students and support staff from 43.97 to 56.79 per 1,000 students by 2026-2027). The bill directly affects all public school districts, with different ratios based on county density (high, medium, low, sparse). For the 2026-2027 school year only, districts will not face penalties for not meeting the new ratios immediately, providing a transition period for implementation.
SB 841 adds $30,498 to the State Board of Education's fund 3951 for the Hope Scholarship Program, using an unappropriated surplus from lottery net profits. This supplemental appropriation allocates existing lottery revenue - specifically from the surplus balance not included in the initial budget - to fund the Hope Scholarship Program during fiscal year 2026. The bill does not change the program's eligibility or structure but provides additional funding for student scholarships. The funds are designated for expenditure before June 30, 2026, as part of the state's budget process.
HB 5048 ensures foster children in temporary care facilities continue their education through virtual learning while awaiting residential placement. It requires that virtual instruction occur in the county where the child was last enrolled (or the current county if unavailable, or the nearest capable county), and mandates that virtual learning begins within three days of placement in temporary care. Foster care agencies responsible for the child must receive IT training to support this transition. Once placed with a foster family, all educational records and virtual learning details are transferred to the new county and foster family. The bill directly affects foster children in temporary care and the agencies managing their placement.
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