Education (K-12 Education)

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

HB 4834: To permit women’s wrestling in public high schools as a sanctioned event

HB 4834 amends West Virginia law to explicitly permit women’s wrestling as a sanctioned sport in public high schools and public charter schools. The bill directly affects school districts and athletic programs by allowing them to officially recognize and sponsor girls' wrestling teams under existing athletic regulations. It adds women’s wrestling to the list of permitted interscholastic athletic events without changing eligibility rules for students. The change requires the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission to approve wrestling as a sanctioned sport under its authority.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands athletic program access for female students in K-12 schools by sanctioning women's wrestling, enhancing educational opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 4446: Firefighter Pilot Program

HB 4446 establishes a four-year pilot program in Kanawha, Ohio, Mineral, and Raleigh counties to provide free Fire Fighter I and II training through community colleges. It directly affects eligible high school and college students in those counties by covering tuition and fees for courses meeting West Virginia State Fire Commission standards. The program requires each county to provide at least one certified fire service instructor, funded by the Higher Education Policy Commission, with annual reports tracking participation, certifications earned, costs, and student employment. The pilot runs from July 2026 through June 2030, with mandatory evaluations to determine future expansion or termination.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCovers tuition/fees for fire service training at community colleges, directly funding educational access for students in specified counties.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Tags Public Safety

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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 Feb 3, 2026

HB 4152: Workforce-Education Partnership Act

HB 4152, the Workforce-Education Partnership Act, allows West Virginia business owners to contract employees to vocational programs or high school classes while the employees retain full-time status and benefits. Businesses receive a 100% tax credit on wages paid during participation, capped at $50,000 per business annually and $5 million statewide yearly. Employees must meet program qualifications and cannot replace certified teachers in core subjects, but may provide specialized training in fields like trade skills or healthcare. The law ensures fiscal responsibility through strict caps and uses existing state resources to minimize administrative costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides 100% business tax credit ($50k/business, $5M statewide) with fiscal caps, aligning with tax relief and responsible budget management.88% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax credits for business partnerships in vocational education, increasing funding/access for students without replacing certified teachers in core subjects.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRetains full-time status/benefits for employees in vocational programs, provides tax incentives for businesses to maintain employment, directly supports worker employment conditions and benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Apprenticeships Child Labor Workforce Development

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

HB 4505: Requiring each county school board to employ at least one full time school nurse

HB 4505 requires every West Virginia county school board to employ at least one full-time school nurse at each public school serving kindergarten through seventh grade. The requirement applies for every 1,500 students enrolled (or major fraction thereof), with counties able to contract with public health departments for equivalent services if approved. County boards may apply for state funds to cover costs exceeding the basic nurse requirement, particularly for students with specialized health needs. The bill also mandates that nurses be licensed registered professionals and outlines training standards for school employees who may assist with certain health procedures under supervision.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school nurses for K-7 schools, improving student health services (a key aspect of school infrastructure) and enabling state funding support for implementation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandating school nurses directly improves student access to healthcare services in schools, advancing public health access for K-7 students as required by the bill.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Healthcare Workforce Public Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 162: Requiring WV Board of Education to promulgate legislative rule relating to concussion protocol

SB 162 requires the West Virginia Board of Education to create a rule (with input from the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy) governing concussion protocols, education, and prevention for school athletic activities. The rule will apply to all school sports teams, youth sports leagues using school facilities, and activities regulated by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. Schools must then adopt a specific Concussion Education, Prevention, and Response Plan based on this rule, covering who receives training and how to handle concussions. This bill directly affects schools, athletic staff, and youth sports participants on school grounds.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates concussion protocols and safety plans for K-12 school sports, directly enhancing student safety and well-being in educational settings per Education (K12) subject.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates concussion protocols and response plans for student athletes, enhancing injury prevention and medical response in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

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

HB 4383: West Virginia Clean Air in Schools Act of 2026

HB 4383, the West Virginia Clean Air in Schools Act of 2026, requires all K-12 schools in West Virginia to install air quality monitors measuring CO₂, PM2.5, VOCs, and humidity by 2029. The bill mandates phased implementation: monitors in all elementary classrooms by 2027, 50% of middle/high school classrooms by 2028 (prioritizing special education and high-risk areas), and full coverage by 2029. Schools must publicly display real-time air quality data via a state-maintained dashboard and submit corrective action plans if pollution exceeds health standards. This directly affects every county school district operating K-12 facilities across West Virginia.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates air quality monitoring in all K-12 schools to improve indoor environment, directly supporting school infrastructure and student health within educational settings.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates monitoring of environmental pollutants (PM2.5, VOCs) in schools, advancing pollution control and environmental health protections per bill's requirements.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates air quality monitoring in schools to improve indoor air quality, a public health measure directly protecting student and staff health per bill's Health subject classification.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Student Health Air Quality

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 39: Requiring heart health program in grades three through six

SB 39 requires West Virginia public schools with students in grades three through six to implement a heart health program. The program must include 12 consecutive weeks of nutrition and aerobic exercise education annually, delivered through flexible formats like books, digital tools, or in-person classes. Schools must align the program with state health standards, track student participation, and report data to the state education department. This directly affects all public schools serving grades three through six in West Virginia, mandating specific health education requirements during the school day.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates heart health programs in K-12 schools, enhancing student wellness through required curriculum and alignment with state education standards.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires heart health education in K-12 schools, promoting preventive public health measures through nutrition/exercise programs aligned with state health standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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