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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
HB 4942 requires a second adult to be present on West Virginia county school buses when elementary students (pre-kindergarten through 4th grade) are riding with middle or high school students (5th grade and above). This applies specifically to bus routes where younger children are mixed with older students. The bill mandates this additional adult to maintain order and safety during transportation. It directly affects county school bus systems operating routes with mixed-age groups in the specified grade ranges. The requirement is triggered only when elementary-aged children are present alongside middle/high school-aged students on the same bus route.
SB 51, titled the "Baby Olivia Act," requires all West Virginia public schools to teach a mandatory course on human growth and development starting in third grade. The course must include two specific educational materials: a high-definition ultrasound video showing fetal organ development and the "Meet Baby Olivia" video detailing human development from conception to birth. The State Board of Education is authorized to adopt curriculum rules, and the Attorney General can enforce compliance with civil penalties for nonadherence. This law directly affects public school students in grades three and above across the state.
