HB 5205 requires West Virginia's State Board of Education to develop model policies for technology and artificial intelligence (AI) use in public school classrooms. It directly affects all K-12 public schools (including district, charter, and specialized schools), county education boards, teachers, and parents. Key provisions include mandating that instructional technology must support learning without distracting students, minimizing non-essential screen time, requiring transparency for parents about digital tools used, and adopting an AI-specific policy by July 2027. The bill also sets criteria for technology approval, such as evidence of educational value and safety for student development, and requires public hearings before county boards adopt policies.
HB 5435 modifies West Virginia's school funding formula to increase support for rural counties. It adds a multiplier to the "net enrollment" calculation for counties classified as "sparse-density" (those with fewer than five students per square mile). This adjustment directly increases state funding for school systems in these rural counties when their net enrollment falls below 1,400 students. The change applies to all school funding calculations under the state's public school support system, ensuring rural districts receive additional resources based on population density.
SB 758 would provide extra state funding to West Virginia school districts for students enrolled in schools designated as "extremely remote" under the bill. It prohibits county school boards from closing such schools during the fiscal year they receive the additional aid and requires submission of specific documentation and reporting. The bill also allows waivers for certain documentation requirements. These provisions aim to support remote schools by ensuring stable funding and operational continuity.
HB 5053 establishes a 90-day waiting period during which families involved in active truancy cases or pre-petition processes cannot withdraw their child for homeschooling. The bill directly affects families navigating school attendance disputes, aiming to prevent short-term homeschooling as a way to bypass academic accountability, such as reading proficiency requirements under the Third Grade Success Act. Key provisions include a legislative finding that current processes allow "easy outs" without oversight for at-risk youth, and a recommendation for the state education department to survey families who choose homeschooling to understand systemic reasons for the decision. The bill does not change homeschooling rules generally but targets specific situations involving truancy proceedings.
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.
HB 5463 amends West Virginia law to increase liability insurance requirements for county school boards and their personnel. It mandates minimum $1 million liability coverage from the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management for teachers, administrators, superintendents, and school board members, plus $5 million in additional excess coverage that counties must purchase. The bill requires comprehensive coverage including malpractice, corporal punishment, and legal liability, along with annual written notice to all covered staff about their insurance details. This affects all public school employees and officials in county districts and participating public charter schools. The bill passed the House on March 3, 2026, and is now before the Senate Banking and Insurance committee.
HB 5647, the "Open and Equal Opportunities in Student Activities Act," allows homeschooled students, Hope Scholarship participants, and students at nonpublic schools to join extracurricular activities - including sports - at public or nonpublic schools that are members of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. This applies when their own school doesn’t offer the activity or isn’t a commission member. Students must register with their county school board, pay standard fees, follow school rules, and be covered by the school’s insurance. The bill clarifies participation doesn’t guarantee a spot on a team or activity, and students transferring mid-year follow standard transfer protocols.
HB 5686 changes the timing for annual deposits into West Virginia's Hope Scholarship accounts. Starting July 1, 2026, the total annual deposit must be paid in four equal installments: by August 15, October 15, January 15, and April 15 each year. This replaces the previous single annual payment requirement under §18-31-6(d). The bill directly affects Hope Scholarship recipients who receive these annual deposits. The change aims to provide more consistent funding throughout the year.
HB 5245 creates the "Governor's Cup Challenge," a yearly athletic competition between Marshall University and West Virginia University in NCAA Division I sports. The winning school earns points based on game outcomes, with the annual champion receiving 65% of scholarship funds generated from 20% of game-related revenue (tickets, merchandise, concessions). These funds support scholarships for West Virginia high school athletes who participated in sports but did not receive athletic scholarships to in-state colleges and are now pursuing degrees at those institutions. The program is administered by the university system's vice chancellor for administration.
HB 5384 authorizes West Virginia's Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) to annually adjust the required composite ACT/SAT scores for the PROMISE scholarship program. This change directly affects West Virginia students applying for PROMISE scholarships, which cover tuition costs at state colleges and universities. The bill allows HEPC to modify the minimum test score thresholds each year to maximize the number of eligible students, without altering the $4,750 award cap or other eligibility requirements like GPA or citizenship. The goal is to ensure scholarship funds are distributed to the highest number of qualifying students based on annual testing data.
