SB 437 replaces West Virginia's current school funding formula with a new system that allocates state aid to county school districts based on student needs and local resources. It directly affects all county boards of education by adding weighted factors for low-income students (+0.30), special education (+0.80), and rural schools meeting specific criteria (e.g., population density under 50/sq mi or bus routes over 15 miles). The formula calculates aid as (base per-pupil amount × weighted enrollment) minus local revenue capacity, plus rural adjustments of $250-$600 per pupil. This aims to reduce funding gaps for high-need and rural districts while requiring annual transparency reports and capping annual aid changes at 3% during implementation.
HB 4181 prohibits the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission from taking adverse actions against middle or high school students who participate in travel sports teams. The bill directly affects students enrolled in public schools who compete on travel sports teams outside their school's athletic program. It ensures these students cannot face disciplinary measures or bans from school sports for participating in travel teams, while existing eligibility rules (like academic requirements and age limits) still apply. The commission must treat these students equally and cannot discriminate against them based on travel sports participation.
HB 4900 requires all West Virginia county boards of education to provide free feminine hygiene products (such as pads and tampons) to female students in public elementary, middle, and high schools. The bill mandates this access using existing school appropriations for hygiene products, without requiring new state funding. It directly affects female students in every public K-12 school across the state. The key provision is a mandatory requirement for schools to ensure these products are available, funded through current budget allocations for school hygiene supplies.
HB 4953 requires all West Virginia high school students to pass a civics examination and the U.S. Naturalization Examination as a prerequisite for graduation. This bill directly affects all public, private, parochial, and denominational high school students in West Virginia who are nearing graduation. Key provisions mandate that schools teach U.S. government history, civics, and the Constitution (as outlined in §18-2-9), provide standardized tests aligned with these standards, and make the two exams mandatory for graduation. The bill does not change existing curriculum requirements but adds the passing of these specific exams as a new graduation requirement.
HB 4422 permits eighth and ninth-grade students in West Virginia public schools to attend summer school specifically to improve their grades and meet academic eligibility requirements for extracurricular activities (such as sports) in the following fall. The bill amends existing law to explicitly allow this pathway, ensuring students who need grade improvement can participate in summer programs without interference with the regular school year. It does not change summer school program structure or funding but directly affects 8th and 9th graders who risk losing activity eligibility due to academic standing.
SB 571 modifies West Virginia law to implement the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. It exempts the program from standard state purchasing rules (§5A-3-3d) to ensure timely use of federal funds. The bill also requires public schools to adopt the Presidential Fitness Test for students in grades 4-8 and high school (§18-2-7a), and mandates that medical and osteopathic boards require continuing education in nutrition for license renewal (§30-3-12, §30-14-10). These provisions directly affect rural health programs, public schools, and licensed healthcare professionals.
HB 4775 requires the West Virginia Department of Education to analyze statewide school discipline data - including breakdowns by race, gender, and disability - and develop a statewide program to reduce disciplinary actions against K-12 students. It mandates county school boards to implement this program, aiming to improve disciplinary outcomes. The bill also requires the Department to submit biennial reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, provide annual updates, and publish discipline data on a public dashboard for transparency. This directly affects all public schools and county boards across West Virginia through new data collection, program implementation, and reporting obligations.
HB 4697 requires West Virginia high schools to inform 11th and 12th grade students placed in "free" or "teacher-assistant" periods about available online college course opportunities. This applies specifically to students not enrolled in a regular class during those periods, such as during unscheduled free time or while assisting teachers. Schools must provide information on accessible online college courses but do not need to guarantee enrollment or cover costs. The bill aims to expand access to college-level coursework for high school students in non-traditional class settings. It adds this requirement to existing education code provisions without altering current course mandates.
HB 4946 authorizes West Virginia counties to test a four-day school week through a two-year pilot program approved by the State Board of Education. It requires counties to submit detailed plans ensuring students receive sufficient instructional time (meeting state standards), preserving teacher planning/collaboration time (at least 40 minutes daily for elementary), and maintaining school calendar approvals. The program must focus solely on improving student learning, with the State Board reviewing proposals to confirm they align with educational goals. This affects all West Virginia public school counties seeking to experiment with reduced school days while maintaining academic requirements.
SB 605 would provide a tax credit to West Virginia resident parents or legal guardians who homeschool or enroll their children in private schools meeting state education standards. The credit equals the amount a student eligible for the HOPE Scholarship would receive, covering kindergarten through 12th grade. Families already receiving the HOPE Scholarship are excluded from this credit. The State Tax Commissioner will establish rules for claiming the credit, but the State Board of Education cannot impose additional regulations on homeschooled children.
