Education

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 4950: To establish the West Virginia Freedom and Innovation Pilot Act of 2026

HB 4950 establishes the West Virginia Freedom and Innovation Pilot Act of 2026, creating a voluntary program for any West Virginia county to join. Participating counties would receive $5,775 per enrolled student (as of December 2025) with a 1% annual funding increase if enrollment grows, while being exempt from state-mandated staffing ratios, service quotas, and central salary schedules - though they must still follow the Third Grade Success Act and federal requirements. Counties in the program maintain full control over school calendars, class sizes, salaries, and benefits, but administrative costs are capped at 7% of their total annual budget. The pilot begins July 1, 2026, and will be reviewed by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability by July 1, 2031, after which it will sunset unless extended.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds ($5,775 per student) to counties for K12 education, increasing public service funding through state appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $5,775 per student with annual funding increases, directly boosting school resources while allowing flexibility within state mandates.95% confidence

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

HB 4115: To modify the required amount of contracted teaching days and provide for breaks per semester for teachers.

HB 4115 reduces the required number of instructional days for students in West Virginia from 180 to 160 per school year. It mandates that county school boards provide built-in breaks for teachers during the fall and spring semesters, to be scheduled after standardized testing. The 20 days saved from the reduced instructional requirement will be allocated to these breaks. This change directly affects public school teachers and county school districts by altering the school calendar to include additional time off for educators.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates teacher breaks after testing using reduced instructional days, supporting educator workload management within K-12 education.85% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 4641: Relating to codifying the guidelines for nutritionally adequate school breakfasts and lunches

HB 4641 (the "Feed to Achieve Act") requires West Virginia county school boards to provide nutritionally adequate breakfasts and lunches meeting current federal standards, directly affecting all elementary students. It mandates limits on added sugar and sodium in school meals based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and phases in free breakfasts for elementary students where feasible using existing funds like donations or federal programs. Schools must adopt approved breakfast delivery systems (e.g., "Breakfast in the Classroom") and track participation rates, while the state reports annually on program impacts to legislative committees. The bill codifies existing USDA meal patterns without creating new federal funding requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates nutritionally adequate school meals meeting federal standards, phases in free breakfasts for elementary students using existing funds, enhancing student health and access to meals as part of K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates nutritionally adequate school meals meeting federal dietary guidelines, directly promoting public health through school nutrition standards as part of healthcare policy.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 516: Increasing state minimum salary for teachers

SB 516 sets a new state minimum salary of $50,000 for all West Virginia public school teachers beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, replacing the previous minimum schedule. It also provides a $2,000 annual base salary increase for every teacher and an additional $1,200 annual increase specifically for teachers providing math instruction or special education services. The bill amends the state salary schedule to reflect these changes, ensuring all teachers meet the new $50,000 minimum regardless of experience level or degree. This policy directly affects every public school teacher in West Virginia, with the changes taking effect for the 2026-2027 school year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state budget increases for teacher salaries through new minimums and annual raises, directly funding public education via increased appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill sets $50,000 minimum teacher salary and provides annual increases, directly supporting educators through enhanced compensation and targeted incentives for critical teaching areas.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases teacher minimum wage to $50,000 and provides additional annual salary boosts, directly advancing worker compensation standards in employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Teachers

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

HB 4145: Creating a school choice office.

HB 4145 would create a school choice office within the Governor's Office, funded by legislative appropriation, to assist students and parents navigating school options in West Virginia. The office would coordinate with the Department of Education to provide information about public schools, private/parochial schools, virtual learning, homeschooling, learning pods, and micropods. It would specifically use the existing statewide homeschool online portal as a primary tool to share these options with families. The bill focuses on administrative coordination rather than altering funding or enrollment rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly requires legislative appropriation to fund a new school choice office, directly allocating state budget resources for education services.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates school choice office to coordinate educational options, directly expanding access to K-12 school information and resources per bill's purpose.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Choice

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

HB 4189: Relating to Hope Scholarships awards

HB 4189 modifies West Virginia's Hope Scholarship program by adding income-based eligibility limits for families. It sets award percentages based on family income relative to federal poverty levels (e.g., full awards for families at or below 450% poverty, 10% for those at or below 750%). The bill also requires counties to be reimbursed for services provided to scholarship recipients and mandates parents submit tax documentation to verify income, with strict confidentiality protections. This directly affects low-to-moderate-income families seeking scholarship funds for K-12 education expenses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access via income-targeted Hope Scholarships, increasing funding availability for lower-income families while requiring county reimbursement and tax confidentiality protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Funding Student Financial Aid

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vetoed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 4002: Establishing the West Virginia Collaboratory

HB 4002 establishes the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University to connect state university research with practical needs of government and citizens. It directs the Collaboratory to focus on workforce development, education, economic growth, and environmental research, requiring state and local agencies to provide free access to infrastructure, personnel, and data for its projects. The bill sets specific funding rules, prohibiting university overhead fees on allocated funds and ensuring funds remain available until spent. An advisory group of legislators, university leaders, and public experts will guide research priorities and review reports, all while exempting advisory meetings from public record requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes higher education collaborative at Marshall University with dedicated funding, prohibits overhead fees, and explicitly prioritizes education as a core focus area for research and workforce development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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

HB 4037: Consolidate county school boards

HB 4037 requires West Virginia's 55 county school districts to consolidate into no more than 27 regional or area districts by July 1, 2029, addressing shared challenges like funding, geography, and population. The bill mandates the State Board of Education to study consolidation options and submit recommendations by October 31, 2026, with assistance from a newly created School District Unification Committee. This committee, composed of 11 members including school superintendents, teachers, and union representatives, must meet monthly to develop a transition plan. The State Board is also authorized to establish rules for the consolidation process to ensure orderly implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses funding challenges through consolidation to improve district efficiency and resource allocation, aligning with strengthening K-12 education structure.90% confidence

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

HB 4584: Market pay for Teachers

HB 4584 establishes a market-based pay enhancement for West Virginia teachers in counties where the regional median home price exceeds the state average. It calculates an annual lump-sum payment for teachers in those counties by comparing regional home prices (including contiguous border counties/states) to West Virginia's statewide median home price, then applying a multiplier to the county's average teacher salary. The State Board of Education determines this adjustment every five years starting in 2027, certifies the amount to the State Auditor, and payments are distributed annually as taxable income. This directly affects certified teachers in specific counties with higher regional cost-of-living compared to West Virginia's average, aiming to make salaries competitive with neighboring areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds for teacher pay increases in high-cost counties, boosting education budget spending.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides market-based pay enhancement for teachers in high-cost counties, increasing teacher compensation via salary adjustments tied to regional home prices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Teachers

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

HB 4105: To provide requirements relating to education of students and young adults about unplannned pregnancy options

HB 4105 requires West Virginia public schools and universities to provide information about adoption as an option for unplanned pregnancy whenever contraception or sexually transmitted infection (STI) topics are taught or discussed. It mandates that educational institutions include current adoption practices and state resources for adoption support during health education that covers these subjects. The bill integrates adoption information into existing health curricula without creating new standalone programs, aligning with the state's health content standards. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and supersedes conflicting laws.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of adoption information in health curricula, enhancing educational content on reproductive health within K-12 education.90% confidence

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