Education

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

HB 5616: Modifying years of service experience to include service personnel.

HB 5616 modifies how "years of experience" are calculated for teachers and county-employed registered nurses in West Virginia. The bill explicitly adds military service time to the count of experience years if the individual was under a teaching contract at the time of military induction. This change directly affects teachers and nurses whose salary increments under the state minimum pay schedule will now include qualifying military service, aligning with existing provisions for other experience types. The amendment updates the statutory definition in §18A-4-1 of the West Virginia Code without creating new programs or funding.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds military service to teacher experience for salary increments, enhancing educator compensation under state pay schedule.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds military service time to experience calculations for teachers/nurses, boosting salary increments for veterans in these professions95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Veteran Education

Track

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

HB 5124: Relating to the eligibility of nonpublic schools and education service providers to participate in the Hope Scholarship Program

HB 5124 amends West Virginia law to establish requirements for nonpublic schools and education service providers (like tutoring centers) seeking to accept funds from the Hope Scholarship Program. It requires these providers to submit participation notices, provide expense receipts to parents, avoid refunding scholarship funds improperly, pass background checks for staff, and for schools, submit annual accreditation proof and enrollment data. The bill explicitly states providers cannot be forced to change their admission policies, curriculum, or hiring practices to accept scholarship students. This directly affects nonpublic schools and educational service organizations that wish to participate in the program by receiving scholarship funds for eligible students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by enabling nonpublic schools/tutoring centers to participate in Hope Scholarship Program via clear eligibility requirements, increasing parental choice in K-12 education options.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 737: Authorizing county boards of education to accept volunteers as certified chaplains

This bill allows West Virginia county school boards to hire or accept certified chaplains as volunteers to provide support services for students, staff, and parents. Chaplains selected by school boards do not need state certification or licensing, but must pass background checks (similar to child care facilities) and cannot be registered sex offenders. The bill also limits legal liability for chaplains unless their actions were maliciously intended to harm or harass others. It directly affects school boards, chaplains, and the school community by creating a formal pathway for chaplain services.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows K-12 schools to add volunteer chaplains for student/staff support, enhancing school program accessibility and well-being.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 5192: School funding calculations should be the last three-year running average or the current enrollment, whichever is highest

HB 5192 clarifies that the School Access Safety Fund's per-pupil funding calculation must use the higher of either the last three-year average enrollment or the current year's enrollment. This change ensures funding levels remain stable during temporary enrollment declines, preventing reductions in allocated funds. County school boards receiving these safety-related funds will use this method to determine their per-pupil allocation. The bill specifically amends existing law for the School Access Safety Fund, which supports school safety projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents funding reductions for school safety by mandating higher enrollment-based calculations, maintaining stable budget allocation for essential education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents funding cuts during enrollment dips by using higher enrollment metric, maintaining stable school funding for safety programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Safety Student Health

Track

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 899: Permitting certain teachers to be certified to work as school principals

SB 899 allows teachers with 15 years of experience at a specific school level (elementary, middle, or high) to become certified school principals without traditional administrative coursework. Instead, they must complete a year-long program developed by the West Virginia Department of Education, covering school administration topics like instructional leadership and finance. The bill applies directly to current teachers seeking principal roles in schools matching their teaching experience level. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, replacing previous education requirements for principal certification. The policy aims to create a new pathway for experienced educators to transition into school leadership.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables experienced teachers to become principals without traditional admin coursework, expanding leadership pathways and strengthening school leadership development through targeted training.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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

HB 5111: To prohibit public colleges and universities in this state from requiring vaccines for admission.

HB 5111 prohibits all public and private higher education institutions in West Virginia from requiring vaccines as a condition for student enrollment, faculty or staff employment, or participation in campus activities. The bill bans institutions from offering rewards for vaccinations and requires that any free vaccines provided on campus must include informed consent. It also ensures students, faculty, and staff cannot be denied access to educational programs or jobs solely due to declining vaccination. The law applies immediately upon passage and does not prevent institutions from offering free vaccines with consent.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits vaccine mandates that could deny enrollment/access, expanding educational access for students/faculty by removing a barrier to participation in higher education programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

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

HB 5148: Student Bill of Rights

HB 5148, the Student Bill of Rights, creates a formal framework of rights for all public school students in West Virginia. It directly affects every student by guaranteeing access to meaningful education, safe facilities, free expression (including speech and assembly), and the right to participate in curriculum development. Key mechanisms include requiring schools to provide written copies of the Student Bill of Rights at registration, maintain accessible written policies, and establish clear grievance procedures for complaints. The bill also ensures students can express views without discrimination, receive timely notice of school rules, and access their educational records. These provisions aim to standardize student protections across all public schools in the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGuarantees student rights including safe facilities, free expression, and curriculum participation, requiring schools to implement protective policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health

Track

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

HB 5583: West Virginia Seal of Civic Literacy Act.

HB 5583, the West Virginia Seal of Civic Literacy Act, creates a formal recognition for high school students who demonstrate exceptional civics knowledge. It directly affects public high school students in West Virginia who complete required civics coursework and achieve specific benchmarks: scoring 90% or higher on the state civics assessment, earning a 4 or 5 on AP U.S. Government/History exams, or earning 90% or higher in dual-credit government/history courses. The seal will be affixed to diplomas or transcripts as an official academic distinction, promoting civic engagement without changing existing graduation requirements. This program aims to motivate deeper understanding of government structures, rights, and responsibilities through tangible recognition.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates formal recognition for students excelling in civics curriculum, reinforcing K-12 civics education standards and incentivizing mastery through specific benchmarks.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

Track

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 871: Supplemental appropriation to State Board of Education, fund 3517

SB 871 allocates $12.66 million from West Virginia's Excess Lottery Fund to the Hope Scholarship Program for fiscal year 2026. This supplemental appropriation adds a new funding line (Fund 3517) to the State Board of Education's budget, directing unappropriated lottery surplus funds toward scholarship payments. The bill does not change program eligibility, rules, or structure - it only provides additional funding for existing scholarship disbursements. It is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $12.66M from lottery surplus to existing scholarship program, funding essential education services without changing rules or taxes, aligning with fiscal responsibility and program funding indicators.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $12.66M from lottery funds to Hope Scholarship Program, increasing funding for educational access without altering program structure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Funding Student Financial Aid

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 5354: Relating to authorizing legislative rules regarding higher education

HB 5354 authorizes the continued use of multiple existing legislative rules governing West Virginia's higher education programs, including scholarship initiatives like the Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship and PROMISE. It amends one rule (Medical Student Loan Program) to require U.S. citizenship or legal immigrant status for eligibility and repeals two outdated rules related to purchasing efficiencies and a research trust fund program. The bill does not create new programs but formalizes current administrative practices under the Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College Education. This procedural bill affects state education agencies and institutions managing these programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMaintains existing higher education scholarships (Underwood-Smith, PROMISE) and formalizes current funding mechanisms without cuts or restrictions.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationAmends Medical Student Loan Program to require U.S. citizenship/legal status, restricting immigrant access to state program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Teachers Citizenship & Naturalization