Education (Student Financial Aid)

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 437: Fair State Aid Formula Act of 2026

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reallocates state education funds to prioritize low-income, special education, and rural students, increasing public education funding via adjusted budgetary allocations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds weighted factors for low-income (+0.30) and special education (+0.80) students, increasing targeted school funding to address student needs.95% confidence

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

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

HB 4961: Cap the amount of family income eligible for Hope Scholarships

HB 4961 would limit eligibility for West Virginia's Hope Scholarship program by capping family income at $150,000 in the taxable year of application. This change directly affects parents applying for the scholarship to cover K-12 education expenses for their children. The bill amends existing law to require that a parent's combined federal adjusted gross income must be below $150,000, replacing any previous income threshold. It does not alter other program requirements, such as qualifying education expenses or application procedures.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesCaps income eligibility for state scholarship program, reducing state expenditure on education funding by limiting qualified applicants.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts K-12 scholarship access by capping family income at $150k, limiting eligibility for Hope Scholarships per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 605: Providing tax credit for homeschool students

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit for education expenses, reducing taxable income for eligible families, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle/lower income.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax credit for homeschool/private school education, expanding access to K-12 educational options beyond public schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits K-12 Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 618: Prohibiting public funds from supporting low-earning outcome postsecondary degree programs

Senate Bill 618 prohibits West Virginia state and local public funds from supporting postsecondary degree programs identified as having "low-earning outcomes" under federal standards. It requires the Higher Education Policy Council to adopt rules blocking state funding - covering student aid, operational costs, grants, and facilities - from such programs and to annually report on blocked programs and fiscal impacts. This directly affects public universities and colleges receiving state funding, as well as students enrolled in designated programs. The bill implements a policy change by tying state education funding eligibility to graduate earnings data, rather than program content or accreditation.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds specific higher education programs by restricting state funding allocation for low-earning outcome degrees, directly limiting public spending on targeted programs.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationDefunds specific higher education programs with low-earning outcomes, restricting state funding for such programs per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 177: Providing certified law-enforcement officers tuition-free education up to highest tuition rate for public higher education in WV

SB 177 provides tuition-free education for West Virginia certified law enforcement officers (LEOs) at public and private colleges, up to the highest public tuition rate in the state. It covers certificates, undergraduate degrees, master's degrees, and medical degrees (MD/DO), with officers limited to one degree per level (except for two MD/DO slots annually). Officers must serve one year for every year of tuition covered, and payments coordinate with existing benefits like the GI Bill or PROMISE Scholarship. The program is administered by the Secretary of Homeland Security, requiring legislative funding for implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides tuition-free higher education funding for law enforcement officers, expanding access to public higher education through direct financial support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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

HB 4497: To not entitle WV students to get aid from any WV schools unless they pass a college qualification exam in the 10th grade

This bill would require all West Virginia public high school students to pass a state-developed college readiness exam in 10th grade to qualify for public financial aid at West Virginia's public colleges and universities. The State Board of Education must create the exam and set passing standards, allowing students who fail to retake it after a reasonable time. It applies only to publicly available financial aid for public institutions and would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year. The bill does not affect other forms of aid or private institutions.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts access to higher education financial aid by requiring 10th-grade exam pass, limiting eligibility for state aid and creating barriers to educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Financial Aid Testing & Assessment

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

HB 4112: Provide tax credit for homeschool students

HB 4112 creates a tax credit for West Virginia parents or legal guardians who homeschool or send children to private schools meeting state education standards. The credit equals the annual HOPE Scholarship amount per taxpayer (not per child) and applies to tax years starting January 1, 2026. Families already eligible for the HOPE Scholarship cannot claim this credit. The bill does not allow the State Board of Education to add new regulations for homeschooled children receiving this credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit reducing taxpayer liability for homeschool/private school expenses, aligning with tax relief for families.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax credit for homeschool/private school access, expanding educational choice options for families per bill's explicit language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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introduced · West Virginia · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 600: Limiting family income for Hope Scholarship eligibility

SB 600 would limit eligibility for West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program by requiring that a student's parent or parents have a combined federal adjusted gross income under $100,000. This change directly affects families applying for the scholarship, as it sets a new income threshold for qualification. The bill also requires unused scholarship funds to transfer to the student's local county school system at year-end and mandates that all scholarship funds be spent only on education services provided within West Virginia. These provisions amend existing sections of the state code governing the Hope Scholarship Program.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts scholarship access by income threshold ($100k AGI limit), directly limiting educational access for higher-income families under K-12 education policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding Student Financial Aid

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 19, 2026

SB 476: Selecting Neutral Accreditors Act

SB 476, the "Selecting Neutral Accreditors Act," requires West Virginia public universities to stop using accreditors that mandate or consider Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives as part of accreditation. It directs each university's governing board to review its accreditor by July 1, 2026, and switch to an accreditor that does not require DEI practices (e.g., DEI training, courses, or metrics) within the past five years. If no such accreditor exists, the university must report this to the legislature. The bill directly affects all public higher education institutions in West Virginia and aims to remove DEI requirements from the accreditation process, which is tied to federal student loan eligibility.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts DEI requirements in higher education accreditation, limiting inclusion initiatives mandated by accreditors per bill's explicit mandate to switch away from DEI-focused accreditors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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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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