Education

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 232: Establishing WV Secondary School Athletic Trainer and Career Technical Education Program Act

SB 232 establishes a five-year program to place licensed athletic trainers in all West Virginia public secondary schools by 2032, requiring each school to have a trainer on staff or contracted through the county board. It expands existing career and technical education (CTE) sports medicine programs to ensure all high school students have access to accredited training aligned with higher education requirements. The bill mandates annual state funding for trainer recruitment and retention, including using the Underwood-Smith Loan Repayment Program to incentivize trainers who also teach. This directly affects public high schools, student-athletes (through enhanced safety resources), and CTE program participants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual state funding for athletic trainers in all secondary schools and expands CTE sports medicine programs to ensure student access to accredited training aligned with higher education requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 116: Establishing Raylee's Law

SB 116, "Raylee's Law," prohibits county superintendents from authorizing home instruction for a child if a schoolteacher or school personnel has initiated a child abuse or neglect investigation against the child's custodial parent/guardian or the home instructor. It requires county superintendents to notify the county board when such an investigation is reported and to request confirmation of the investigation's status from the Department of Human Services within 48 hours. If the abuse complaint is not substantiated within 14 days, the superintendent must approve home instruction. This law directly affects families seeking home schooling during active child welfare investigations, adding a verification step to ensure child safety.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts home instruction authorization during abuse investigations, limiting educational access options for families under specific circumstances.85% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 386: Creating mobile training team for school safety

SB 386 creates a mobile training team within West Virginia's Department of Homeland Security to provide school safety training and support to public and nonpublic schools. The team will be led by a chief officer and 16 regional officers (required to be licensed peace officers or veterans), focusing on crisis response planning and coordination with school staff. The bill also permits teachers and administrators to become "school protection officers" authorized to carry concealed weapons, with a performance-based bonus that can be revoked if they lose their classification.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates school safety training team and permits staff to carry weapons for safety, enhancing school environment and protection for education.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill requires regional officers to include veterans, recognizing their service in school safety roles per §2-30-11(b)85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 4956: To change the beginning of the school year to the Tuesday after Labor Day and the end of the school year to the Friday before Memorial Day.

HB 4956 sets fixed start and end dates for West Virginia public school years, requiring the instructional term to begin no earlier than the Tuesday after Labor Day and conclude no later than the Friday before Memorial Day starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates a minimum of 180 separate instructional days per year, allowing counties to use "alternative methods" (like remote learning) for up to five weather-related closures without counting as lost days. It also requires counties to maintain 200 employment days for staff while defining non-instructional days for holidays, elections, and professional development. This law directly affects all West Virginia public school students, teachers, and county school boards by standardizing the academic calendar framework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates minimum 180 instructional days annually and prevents weather closures from reducing required instructional time, strengthening educational continuity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 240: Approving overtime pay for teachers

SB 240 would allow West Virginia public school teachers to earn overtime pay for work performed on weekends (Saturdays/Sundays) or beyond standard work hours, but only with prior approval from both the State Board of Education and their school principal. The bill requires the State Board to set the overtime rate based on the existing teacher salary schedule, with weekend work guaranteed to pay at least half the daily regular rate. This policy directly affects public school teachers in West Virginia who perform additional work outside typical hours. The bill does not automatically grant overtime but establishes a framework for its approval and calculation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly provides overtime pay for teachers with guaranteed minimum rate, directly supporting educator compensation and retention in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly enables overtime pay for teachers on weekends/beyond hours, increasing compensation and protecting wage rights under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Labor Standards

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 368: Board of Psychologists rule relating to requirements for licensure as psychologist or school psychologist

This bill authorizes West Virginia's Board of Psychologists to implement specific licensure requirements for psychologists and school psychologists. It formally approves a previously modified rule (17 CSR 03) that was reviewed and adjusted to address legislative concerns. The rule governs the qualifications and processes for obtaining or maintaining a psychology license in the state. This change directly affects individuals seeking to practice psychology or school psychology in West Virginia. The bill itself is procedural, focusing on authorizing the board's existing rule rather than creating new policy.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes licensure requirements for school psychologists, ensuring qualified professionals in K-12 schools to support student mental health services and educational quality.85% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 15, 2026

HB 4368: Relating to military connected students

HB 4368 defines "military-connected students" as children of active-duty, reserve, or deceased military members and establishes new enrollment and support rules for them in West Virginia schools. The bill allows remote school enrollment without physical registration using military orders (with options for temporary or permanent addresses), ensures equitable access to academic courses and extracurricular activities, and requires schools to provide counseling and support services when a parent is activated for duty. It also mandates prompt coordination for students with disabilities during transfers and permits military-connected students to remain at their school until completing the highest grade level offered there. These provisions directly affect military-connected students, their families, and local education agencies across West Virginia.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes enrollment rules and ensures equitable access to courses/counseling for military-connected students, advancing educational access within K-12.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides educational support for children of military members, including deceased veterans, ensuring access to courses and counseling services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Military Families National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 124: Authorizing certain age-appropriate child sexual abuse prevention and sexual violence prevention instruction

This bill requires West Virginia public schools to provide annual, age-appropriate instruction on child sexual abuse prevention for students in grades 3-6, personal safety and assault prevention (with parental opt-out options requiring one-week notice), and dating violence/sexual violence prevention for grades 7-12. It mandates training for public school employees on recognizing abuse signs, responding to disclosures, and preventing inappropriate behaviors, including social media safety. The law also requires schools to develop resources addressing disclosure protocols, child-on-child scenarios, and crisis response in coordination with existing child abuse reporting systems. Public charter and nonpublic schools may choose to follow these requirements voluntarily.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates age-appropriate safety education curriculum and staff training in K-12 schools, enhancing student protection programs and educational content.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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