The Senate Education Committee met on Monday morning and advanced several House Bills concerning school funding and higher education.
House Bill 5438 would modify the public-school funding formula to support instructional programs, technology, and teacher and leadership development.
Unused funds from the Department of Education could be reappropriated for initiatives like the Third Grade Success Act and for permitting counties to use up to 50% of teacher and leader induction funding for projects requested through the Safe School Fund.
Senator Eric J. Tarr (R – Putman, 04) raised concerns about Cutting 50% of the teacher and leader program.
Senator Tarr proposed an amendment striking language in the bill that would prevent funding from being cut from the Teacher and Leader Program, which would remove protections for that program’s funding.
The amendment, which protected teacher and leader program funding from being redirected, was adopted.
The bill, as amended, was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage.
House Bill 4087 would establish the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance to create partnerships between West Virginia and Ireland higher education institutions.
The bill also allows partnered two-year and four-year colleges to apply for grants of up to $50,000 for student exchanges and collaborative programs, with awards determined by the Higher Education Policy Commission.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being sent to the committee on Finance.
House Bill 5163 would exempt child-care programs operated by county boards of education exclusively for the children of their employees or students from certain state child-care licensing requirements.
The State Board of Education could establish its rules to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of children enrolled in those programs.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being sent to the committee on Finance.
House Bill 5453 would establish a new school funding formula beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.
The bill sets a base funding amount of $6,500 per student and creates a Supplemental School Aid Fund to provide additional funding for special needs students and certain extraordinary expenses, with annual legislative oversight of fund distribution.
Senator Garcia proposed an amendment to provide funding for special education and special needs students’ services for the years 2026 and 2027.
“With the HOPE scholarship, if they need more money, we give them more money every time, and I have six schools in Marion County that are on the chopping block, and this is another opportunity for all of us to give them some relief,” stated Joey Garcia (D – Marion, 13).
The amendment was rejected.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being sent to the committee on Finance.
House Bill 5511 would allow a county school board to make a lump-sum payment of up to $6,000 for accrued and unused personal leave when a full-time school employee dies.
The payment would be made to the employee’s estate and would not include retirement contribution deductions or count toward the employee’s final average salary.
The bill was sent to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being sent to the committee on Finance.
