Public Comments

"For West Virginia to retain and attract teachers and educators in this particular field, our state must ensure that qualified teachers within West Virginia are incentivized to stay and work in West Virginia schools."

"West Virginia currently faces a shortage of educators, particularly with those who have specialized training in the mathematics, science and special education fields, which has likely contributed to underperformance in student test scores."

"(1) A math, science or special education teacher who has been employed in an elementary or secondary public school in this state for three years shall be eligible for up to $2,000 in debt relief through this scholarship.

(2) A math, science or special education teacher who has been employed in an elementary or secondary public school in this state for six years shall be eligible for up to $4,000 in debt relief: Provided, That the total debt relief per teacher may not exceed $4,000."

"§18C-10-4. Eligibility requirements; agreements; sunset provision.

(a) To be eligible for the West Virginia Math, Science, and Special Education Teacher Scholarship Program, an individual shall satisfy the following requirements: (2) Have completed at least a Master's Degree in Education, with a specialization in mathematics, science or special education;"

I know bills are mostly still in committees, but have opinions on some education bills. HB5249- this is a no brainer.  Money should NEVER have been going to out of state schools with the voucher program.  This shows there are not enough guardrails on this voucher program. HB 4817- charter school startup fund.  Between this and the vouchers, there is not going to be money left for public schools.  Public schools keep getting defunded in favor of private schools and homeschooling.  We need to fix and improve our public schools.  So I hope you vote in favor of the public schools. SB 388- when it comes to the house, I hope you vote to keep separation of church and state and keep the Bible out of classrooms.  

I am writing in support of HB 5345, bipartisan legislation requiring enrollment-based childcare subsidy payments.

Childcare providers operate with fixed costs that do not change hour by hour. Staffing ratios must be maintained, employees must be paid, and facilities must remain open and operational whether a child attends two hours or a full day. The current attendance-based reimbursement structure relies on an outdated hourly conversion model that does not reflect the true cost of delivering care.

Enrollment-based payments provide stability and predictability, allowing providers to budget responsibly, retain qualified staff, and continue serving working families. Codifying this structure in state law also protects providers and families in the event federal policy changes in the future.

A sustainable childcare system is essential to supporting West Virginia’s workforce and economic growth. HB 5345 is a practical and necessary step toward strengthening childcare access and provider stability across our state.

Please withdraw HB 5053!!

• WV Constitution, Article XII, §1 – “The Legislature shall provide, by general law, for a thorough and efficient system of free schools.”
• WV Constitution, Article XII, §2 – Establishes a State Board of Education with general supervision of free schools.

• WV Code §18-2-1 – Grants the State Board of Education general supervision of public schools.
• WV Code Chapter 18 (Education) – Establishes funding formulas, accreditation, standards, and administrative functions.
• WV Code §18-9A-1 et seq. – Establishes the School Aid Formula.

• Administers state and federal funds.
• Ensures compliance with federal programs (Title I, IDEA, ESSA).
• Oversees accreditation and accountability.
• Provides independent reporting to the Legislature.

• Reduced independence in rule-making.
• Increased legislative micromanagement of funding distribution.
• Potential conflicts of interest when appropriating and administering funds are consolidated.

1. Appropriation authority, and
2. Administrative execution,

• Increase the risk of politically motivated reallocations.
• Weaken technical enforcement of formula compliance.
• Create instability in long-term county budget planning.

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Title I and Title II programs

• Monitor compliance,
• Maintain reporting systems,
• Ensure equal access protections,
• Prevent misallocation.

• Federal audit findings,
• Loss or clawback of funds,
• Litigation exposure.

• The State Board operates with constitutional grounding.
• The Department serves as a professional administrative arm.
• Oversight commissions monitor performance.

• Rulemaking authority may become more volatile.
• Educational standards may fluctuate with election cycles.
• Long-term educational stability may decline.

• Bond ratings tied to educational funding stability,
• County-level financial planning,
• Teacher recruitment and retention.

• Predictable formula calculations,
• Professional guidance,
• Compliance interpretation,
• Special education administration.

• Accreditation,
• Transportation aid,
• Personnel allocation,
• Special education mandates.

• Weakening constitutional supervision,
• Politicizing educational administration,
• Centralizing fiscal control without independent oversight,
• Creating federal compliance vulnerability,
• Undermining long-term system stability.

The title of this bill alone, the 'Child Captivity Prevention Act,' is a disgusting insult to every homeschooling family. It reveals a staggering bias, suggesting that parents who choose to homeschool are 'captors' rather than educators. The state can't even seem to figure out what is best for the children in public school, as evidenced by our consistent rankings in education. Lawmakers' time would be better focused to that end.

​This legislation is a clear attempt to deter innocent homeschooling families from moving to West Virginia. By requiring a mandatory DoHS 'wellness visit' for every new homeschooling family, you are treating law-abiding citizens as criminals the moment they cross the state line. If the state truly believes the actions of one individual justify mass surveillance of an entire group, then your logic is fundamentally broken. What is next, mandatory pelvic exams for all children, just in case? Or will that also only be for homeschooled children?

​We should never assume that everyone with something in common is dangerous or should have fewer rights. As a country, we have seen the tragedy that occurs when groups are targeted based on their characteristics, such as skin color. It was wrong then, and it is still wrong now. In America, we punish the guilty for their crimes; we do not strip the rights of the innocent to 'pre-empt' a crime that hasn't happened.

​Furthermore, our Department of Human Services is already notoriously overwhelmed. Forcing them to waste taxpayer money conducting 'wellness visits' on innocent families is a slap in the face to the children truly in danger who are currently waiting for help. This bill isn't about safety, it is an offensive overreach that treats every parent as a suspect until proven otherwise. I urge the committee to reject this mean-spirited attack on the homeschooling community.

§18B-10-7b. Tuition waivers for high school graduates in foster care

• Nearly 28.5% of West Virginia high school students use tobacco products, among the highest rates nationally. 

• More than 4,280 West Virginians die each year from smoking-related causes. 

• West Virginia has the second-highest rate of new lung cancer cases in the United States. 

• Increased state investment in prevention and cessation 

• Comprehensive, school-based prevention programs 

• Youth-specific cessation and quit services 

• Restrictions on flavored tobacco and vaping products 

• Higher tobacco taxes 

• In an effort to help combat the growing youth addiction to tobacco products, The American Lung Association offers programs to assist schools, parents and youth in cessation efforts that work. In fact, the Lung Association collaborated with West Virginia University to develop INDEPTH, an alternative to suspension or citation. We encourage delegates and school officials to work with us to help West Virginia youth break tobacco addiction. 

1. Fully funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs at CDC-recommended levels. 

1. Expanding access to youth vaping cessation services statewide. 

1. Enacting strong restrictions on flavored tobacco and vaping products. 

1. Increasing tobacco taxes, which are proven to reduce youth initiation. 

1. Strengthening smoke-free protections in schools and public spaces. 

• Broadband access
• Teacher availability
• Course offerings in rural vs. urban districts

• Establish challenging academic standards
• Maintain accountability systems
• Disaggregate data by subgroup (race, income, disability, etc.)

• Clear measurable standards
• Comparable rigor across districts
• Transparent reporting

• Implementation leads to disparate educational opportunity, or
• Students in certain geographic or socioeconomic areas receive reduced access to advanced coursework.

• Computational thinking
• Coding principles
• Cybersecurity fundamentals
• Data literacy

• Establish a uniform statewide assessment standard
• Define minimum instructional benchmarks
• Require transparent county-level reporting
• Ensure equal access to industry credential pathways

This bill will require all classrooms to hang up a poster of the Ten Commandments. I don’t agree with this bill because, it goes against the seperation of religion and state and what if other kids follow a different religion like Hindu, Muslim, Judaism it wouldn’t be fair to them at all.

I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed simplification of the financial aid code.

Simplification will make a meaningful difference for both students and financial aid professionals. Clearer, more straightforward financial aid rules will help students and families better understand their aid packages and more easily see that college is affordable and attainable. When the process feels less complicated and more transparent, students are more likely to persist through enrollment and make confident decisions about pursuing higher education.

These changes will also better support our financial aid staff by reducing unnecessary complexity and administrative burden, allowing them to focus more time on advising and direct student support.

At Concord University, our mission is to serve southern West Virginia and expand access to higher education across our region. This proposed simplification aligns directly with that mission by helping us remove barriers and better serve our students who might otherwise see college as out of reach.

To the Honorable Members of the West Virginia House Education Committee:

On behalf of New River Community & Technical College and President Copenhaver, I respectfully submit this statement in support of House Bill 5212 during your consideration of this important legislation.

HB 5212 represents a thoughtful set of reforms to West Virginia’s higher education grant and workforce development programs. The bill modernizes key provisions governing financial aid, scholarship, and loan programs that directly impact access to postsecondary education for students across our state. Notably, the bill:

• Strengthens Workforce Alignment: By revising and expanding grant and scholarship structures, HB 5212 enhances the state’s ability to connect education to in-demand workforce needs — a priority our college shares in preparing students for careers that contribute to West Virginia’s economic growth.

• Supports Student Access & Flexibility: The legislation updates eligibility definitions and incorporates flexible options that better accommodate part-time learners and those pursuing workforce training opportunities.

• Incentivizes Partnerships: By promoting collaborative program development and encouraging educational partnerships with employers, the bill fosters an environment in which community and technical colleges can innovate and respond rapidly to employer needs.

These reforms align with New River CTC’s mission to provide accessible, affordable, quality education, and workforce programs to meet the needs of the region it serves. We believe HB 5212 will help strengthen West Virginia’s higher education system and foster opportunities that benefit students, communities, and employers alike.

We urge the Committee to give HB 5212 favorable consideration.

Respectfully submitted,                                                                                                                                                                Michael Green, Chief of Staff on behalf of President Copenhaver
New River Community & Technical College

• Students are no longer competing under the same rules.
• Eligibility can vary by cohort rather than merit.
• Families lose the ability to plan based on known requirements.
• The system risks favoring some students while excluding others who met prior expectations.

• independent audits or third-party review,
• conflict-of-interest safeguards between rule writers and program administrators,
• measurable performance standards tied to continued authorization, or
• public transparency requirements beyond internal reporting.

Does this affect the programs already in existence, like the one in Wood County X755B

I have many concerns with House Bill 5053:

1.  As a longtime homeschool advocate in communication with thousands of homeschoolers who have removed their child(ren) from the public school system, I can verify the vast majority have removed their children after either a bullying situation or a medical condition.  In the case of bullying it was deemed necessary to keep the child home immediately to protect the physical and emotional well being of the child thus leading to more days missed from school, but the child was protected from the attackers.  In the case of a medical condition, it is no secret more children are exhibiting chronic conditions than ever before.  In some cases the families have exhausted funds to continually seek a medical excuse.  Forcing a family to continue in their present state for any period of time is cruel.  There are no provisions in this law for keeping children safe in these situations. Also, we are writing law based on an assumption?  "The county often receives a homeschool notice..."  Where is the statistical proof of that beyond the assumption (heresay) of county personnel who find it difficult to maintain the homeschool records they are charged by the law to collect?  Ask counties such as Kanawha, who lost all their homeschool records a few years ago and my own county of Lewis who sent me a letter stating the records were lost and asked if I would re-submit.
2. There is a "concern"  that parents "may".... are we making law based on a statistically undocumented assumption??  This portion does not even make sense.  From the parents I have contact, their stories describe realizing their public school children who are in 3-5th grades cannot read.  Some parents have removed their children from public school for the express purpose of teaching the child to read and then returning to public school.  The actual statistics as posted on the WVDE website and various news articles state WV public school children are less than 50% proficient in the ability to read and basic math skills.  It is jaw dropping your efforts are turned toward homeschooling when thousands of children in the public school system are unable to read.
3. This bill targets one small group in the entire state - homeschoolers.  A parent can remove a child to apply for the Hope Scholarship, microschool, or learning pod without this unfair regulation applying to them.  Homeschoolers are those who do not take public funds for education.  This bill implies that those who take public funds (Hope Scholarship) can remove their child from public school even if the child has been truant for months.  Likewise if the parent enrolls the child in a microschool (paid teacher) or learning pod (unpaid volunteer), this proposed legislation would not apply and they could freely leave the public school without question.  Is this discrimination?
4. The last portion is a puzzle as there is zero indication of what the law is requiring..."a comprehensive study of public school families who choose to homeschool to identify systematic drivers for the decision".  Is this like an inquisition? An exit poll? A court order to explain a parent's decision?  What kind of questions will be asked in this comprehensive study?  Does your family attend church...Do you have a social lifestyle...Are you a conservative or liberal....This legislation is so open ended it could entail anything!  It IS clear it entails questioning parents about a decision made in the upbringing of their children, which is a God-given right.  I am shocked of the wording and intent of this bill.

• Classroom instruction
• Teacher recruitment or retention
• Academic remediation
• Curriculum development
• K-12 or post-secondary academic infrastructure

• Student enrollment
• Instructional costs
• Equity and adequacy
• Predictable and stable funding formulas

• Ticket sales
• Merchandise revenue
• Athletic competition results

• Reduce or consolidate Department of Education functions
• Shift administrative responsibilities without corresponding funding increases
• Alter curriculum standards and historical instruction requirements

• Broad access
• Academic opportunity
• Workforce readiness

• K-12 underfunding
• School closures
• Limited academic offerings
• Barriers to post-secondary readiness

Requiring students to perform the ritual of flag folding, a practice deeply rooted in military tradition, raises significant concerns regarding the compelled speech doctrine. As established in the landmark case West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943), the state cannot force citizens to confess by word or act their faith in any orthodox tenet of nationalism.

• A child may be exempt from compulsory attendance if the requirements of W. Va. Code §18-8-1(c)(2) are met, including a Notice of Intent to provide home instruction that assures instruction in reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies, and an annual academic assessment.  
• Homeschool parents must submit evidence of a high school diploma or equivalent and assessment results as prescribed by statute, but they retain full responsibility for their child’s education within the statutory framework.  
• Vocational opportunities are accessible to homeschool students under W. Va. Code §18-5-15g, which requires that county boards permit homeschooled students to enroll in vocational education under the same conditions as public school students.  

• Departs from the statutory exemption process outlined in §18-8-1(c)(2).  
• Risks creating penal consequences for parents exercising their right to educate their children at home.
• Encourages a system that prioritizes surveillance over support — contrary to principles of family autonomy and limited government intrusion.

I strongly support the intent of HB 4641 and the goal of improving the nutritional quality of school meals for West Virginia students. Healthier meals that reduce added sugar and sodium and prioritize nutrient dense foods are unquestionably in the best interest of children and families.

That said, I believe it is important to raise a practical implementation concern that may not be fully appreciated. Achieving these nutrition improvements will likely require school nutrition programs to move further away from prepackaged, heat and serve foods and toward more scratch or semi-scratch meal preparation. While this is a positive outcome nutritionally, it represents a significant increase in labor, time, and skill requirements for school cooks and cafeteria staff.

School nutrition employees are among the lowest paid personnel in our public schools and are already operating with limited staffing, aging facilities, and tight schedules. Asking these employees to do more complex and labor intensive work without additional compensation, staffing support, training, or dedicated funding risks creating frustration, morale issues, and inconsistent implementation across counties.

If this legislation is to succeed in practice, it must be paired with meaningful support for the workforce responsible for carrying it out. Consideration should be given to additional funding, wage supplements, staffing flexibility, or state supported training and technical assistance to ensure districts can meet these expectations without overburdening an already strained workforce.

I support HB 4641 and respectfully urge the Legislature to view nutrition standards and workforce support as inseparable. Without addressing both, well intentioned policy risks falling short of its intended impact.

Mariah Richards

I understand and appreciate the intent to address student nicotine use in schools, which is a real and growing concern. However, I am cautious about relying on law enforcement citations to address student possession.

Nicotine use among students is primarily a public health and educational issue, not a criminal one. Allowing citations without clear guardrails risks uneven enforcement and unnecessary involvement of students in the juvenile justice system, with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations.

I encourage the Legislature to prioritize school based interventions, education, and diversion before law enforcement action is taken. Clear limits and safeguards would help ensure this bill addresses the problem without creating unintended equity or justice concerns.

Mariah Richards

I understand and appreciate the intent of SB 155 to address teacher shortages, but I am concerned about how adjunct teaching positions would be funded.

The bill allows counties to hire adjunct teachers outside the state salary schedule, yet it does not clarify whether these positions would be recognized for state aid. If adjunct teachers are not funded through the state aid formula, counties, especially those already financially strained, may be unable to afford this option.

Without clear funding guidance, this bill risks creating an unfunded mandate rather than a workable solution. I urge the Legislature to clarify how adjunct positions will be supported financially before moving this bill forward.

Thank you,

Mariah Richards

Members of the Legislature,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this bill. I understand the intent to recognize the historical role of the Aitken Bible during the Revolutionary War and its place in early American history.

West Virginia’s Constitution requires the Legislature to provide a thorough and efficient system of free schools. Any law affecting public education should clearly support student learning, improve outcomes, and use limited resources wisely.

This bill does not meet that standard.

Requiring public schools to house religious material that cannot be purchased with public funds does not improve education in West Virginia. It does not raise test scores, improve reading skills, or increase student achievement. It does not create jobs or strengthen our workforce.

Our schools are already struggling to meet basic needs. Teachers and administrators regularly ask families and community members to donate supplies, books, and other resources. The Aitken Bibles required by this bill are costly, and requiring schools to obtain them through outside funding places yet another burden on communities that are already stretched thin.

The bill applies to fourth, eighth, and tenth grades based on when the American Revolution is taught. While the Revolution is discussed in those grades, it is important to note that eighth grade focuses on West Virginia history. The Revolutionary War is only briefly covered, and the limited time spent on it does not allow for the depth needed to make the historical connections this bill appears to expect.

This bill also includes no penalty for failing to comply. Without any enforcement, it functions more as a suggestion than a true requirement. That raises concerns about whether this legislation is meant to improve education or simply send a message to certain voters.

There is no clear evidence that this requirement would benefit students in any measurable way. At best, it risks becoming a display item that is rarely used.

There is no evidence or rationale demonstrating that this requirement will improve test scores, raise academic achievement, or meaningfully enhance historical understanding. In practice, it risks becoming nothing more than a decorative item on a bookshelf.

I respectfully urge you to focus your efforts on policies that clearly strengthen education and better serve West Virginia’s students.

The purpose of this bill seems to push private and charter school programs. This takes funding away from rural and poverty areas within WV. All children deserve free and accessible education not just the elite and wealthy. We cannot expect success when adequate and sustainable resources are not provided to a system  of public education. The children in public schools deserve proper funding this bill diverting funds to scholarships or vouchers undermines the effectiveness and success of our public education system.

This is the laziest piece of partisan legislation I’ve ever seen. Just buy Trump coin instead of putting your name on something so stupid.

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