Education

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 4637: Limit the time Teachers Aides can be pulled from their regular duties to 30 minutes per day.

HB 4637 limits teacher aides in West Virginia public schools to no more than 30 minutes per day when they are pulled from their regular job duties to cover other tasks. The bill amends state education code to establish this clear time cap for all aides temporarily reassigned outside their primary responsibilities. It directly affects teacher aides by ensuring they spend most of their workday in their designated roles rather than being diverted for other duties. This policy change creates a concrete, measurable restriction on how often schools can reassign aide time.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationLimits time aides are pulled from duties to protect their primary roles, supporting educator effectiveness and classroom stability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 20, 2026

HB 4578: To provide more local control over educational decisionmaking, differentiation of funding for counties, and to address operational efficiencies within education.

HB 4578 amends West Virginia education code sections related to teacher contracts and employment, directly affecting school districts and teachers. It specifies that all teachers must sign county board contracts detailing salary, establishes probationary (1-3 years) and continuing contract statuses, and requires written notice with a hearing for termination after three years. The bill clarifies procedures for dismissal due to lack of need, including preferred reemployment lists based on seniority, and ensures released time for teachers serving in the Legislature. It does not address funding differentiation or operational efficiencies as implied in its title, focusing solely on teacher contract terms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies teacher contract terms, probationary periods, and termination procedures with hearings, providing due process protections for educators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 4693: To declassify Community and Technical Education (“CTE”) teaching positions to allow for counties to provide additional funding for certain positions.

HB 4693 declassifies Community and Technical Education (CTE) teaching positions at community colleges and trades-based high school instructors teaching CTE courses, allowing counties to target additional funding to specific roles in critical need. Currently, all CTE positions are grouped together, requiring county funding to be distributed across all positions; this bill removes that classification barrier. The bill maintains existing state funding for these positions while enabling counties to add supplemental funds to high-demand roles like skilled trades or healthcare education. This change aims to help fill staffing shortages in key CTE fields by letting counties offer targeted financial incentives without reducing state support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables counties to target additional funding toward critical CTE roles, promoting efficient fiscal management within education budgeting while maintaining state funding.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables targeted county funding for critical CTE roles by removing classification barriers, maintaining state funds while improving resource allocation for education positions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Teachers

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 445: Adding Potomac State College as eligible institution for participation in Learn and Earn Program

SB 445 adds Potomac State College of West Virginia University as an eligible institution for West Virginia's Learn and Earn Program, making its participation permanent instead of temporary. The bill removes the previous "pilot program" designation for Potomac State, which had limited eligibility through the 2025-2026 academic year. The Learn and Earn Program allows students in technical programs to work with participating employers while studying, requiring employers to provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match (not in-kind contributions) for student salaries. This change directly affects Potomac State College students and employers partnering with the college to offer paid work-study opportunities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill permanently expands Potomac State College's eligibility in Learn and Earn Program, enhancing student access to work-study opportunities in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 41: Creating Standardized Testing Choice Act

West Virginia's SB 41, the "Standardized Testing Choice Act," permits students in public schools to take the Classical Learning Test (CLT) as an alternative to the ACT or SAT for college admissions and financial aid. Public colleges must accept CLT scores for admissions, and students need a minimum equivalent score of 19 (ACT scale) on the CLT or other tests to qualify for financial aid. The bill requires public school districts to offer the CLT, ACT, or SAT to students in grades 9-12 and the CLT10, Pre-ACT, or PSAT to students in grades 9-10, with districts eligible for reimbursement of related costs. This policy directly affects high school students, public colleges, and school districts across West Virginia.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands K-12 testing options by mandating CLT availability and requires public colleges to accept CLT scores, enhancing educational choice and access for students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid Testing & Assessment

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 214: Creating Community School Funding Formula Revision Act

This bill requires the West Virginia Department of Education to review school closures and consolidations from the current year and the previous four fiscal years. Within 180 days, the department must propose changes to the School Aid Formula that would have prevented at least 80% of closures previously justified by financial or operational reasons. It directly affects public schools in West Virginia facing closure threats due to budget constraints. The bill mandates these formula adjustments regardless of past district decisions, aiming to stabilize school funding. The provision takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates formula revisions to prevent school closures due to financial constraints, strengthening budget allocation for public education through targeted funding adjustments.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates funding formula revision to prevent school closures due to budget constraints, directly strengthening K-12 school stability and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Safety

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 14, 2026

HB 4102: Requiring publicly funded medical schools to teach certain life-saving methods

HB 4102 requires all publicly-funded medical schools in West Virginia to teach specific evidence-based, life-saving medical procedures. This includes abortion pill reversal (using progesterone within 72 hours of taking mifepristone), ectopic pregnancy treatment, miscarriage management, and perinatal hospice care. The bill mandates these topics be part of standard curriculum, with schools failing to comply risking loss of state funding after review by the Legislative Oversight Commission. It directly affects medical schools receiving state, local, or federal funding. The law cites public health and safety as justification, focusing on required teaching content rather than outcomes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates specific life-saving medical curriculum in public medical schools, enhancing higher education curriculum content per Education (Higher) subject.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates teaching life-saving medical procedures in medical schools, enhancing provider training for critical healthcare services including abortion pill reversal and perinatal care.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Public Health Women's Health

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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

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 16, 2026

HB 4453: Regarding Teacher Pay

HB 4453 adjusts West Virginia's teacher salary schedule to increase pay for educators with 35 to 45 years of experience, directly affecting classroom teachers in the state. The bill updates the existing salary table to reflect higher compensation for these experienced teachers, while maintaining the current $600 annual supplement for teachers with 20+ years of experience. It also specifies that math teachers certified in their subject and teaching math 60%+ of the time will count as having three additional years of experience for salary purposes. The changes apply to the 2026-2027 school year and beyond, modifying how experience years are calculated for salary determination.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases teacher pay for experienced educators (35-45 years), directly supporting teacher compensation in K-12 education per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 4759: Modifing the rules for transferring students

HB 4759 requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) to update its rules about athletic eligibility for students who transfer between schools. It directly affects students transferring schools, public and private schools, and the WVSSAC itself. The bill mandates that WVSSAC modify its existing rules to address eligibility after school transfers and also updates rules for incoming ninth-grade students' academic eligibility. These changes aim to standardize transfer protocols and ensure consistent athletic participation rules across school districts. The bill does not alter academic requirements but focuses on administrative procedures for student eligibility.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill standardizes athletic and academic eligibility rules for student transfers, promoting fairness and consistency in K-12 education without restricting access or funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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