West VirginiaWest Virginia schools must provide 900 instructional hours starting in 2027
Starting July 1, 2027, West Virginia public and private schools must provide at least 900 instructional hours yearly, and counties may vary public school day lengths.
What it does
Starting July 1, 2027, public and private schools must provide at least 900 hours of instruction yearly. Certain declared emergencies or disasters may allow a lower public school minimum.
Starting July 1, 2027, schools may count up to 25 hours of instruction during weather or other unexpected closures. Public schools need state approval of their plans.
Starting July 1, 2027, public school teachers direct three days for improving instruction, with required faculty meetings. Schools cannot require unrelated tasks on opening and closing preparation days.
Argument forState-approved plans for assigned and graded work during closures could help public school students keep learning when weather prevents attendance.
Argument againstVarying school-day lengths could make childcare and transportation harder to arrange for families whose work schedules do not match.
More detail
Schools must provide at least 900 hours of instruction each school year. The requirement covers public and private schools, including religious schools. Counties may vary the length of public school days. Public school calendars need approval from the state school board or its designated state superintendent. The state superintendent may lower the public school minimum in counties with federal disaster declarations or governor-declared emergencies or disasters substantially related to lost instruction. Public schools must make up missing hours by adding time or using available days. Holidays, election day, weekends, and the reserved 25 hours for educator activities are excluded. The requirements take effect July 1, 2027.
Schools may count instruction delivered through other methods during closures toward their yearly minimum. Public and private schools, including religious schools, may count up to 25 hours. Public school closure instruction also counts toward employee workdays. Schools must be closed because of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Public schools need state school board approval of a plan specifying the hours counted and requiring teachers to assign and grade student work. This permission takes effect July 1, 2027.
Classroom teachers choose activities to improve instruction on three Educator Focus Days. These rules cover public school teachers. Principals may use focus days as teachers do. Each focus day must include two hours for faculty senate meetings, where the school's faculty council meets. Teachers may choose other permitted activities on preparation days, but schools cannot require tasks unrelated to opening or closing preparation. Public school employment terms must include at least 200 days. The law says it is not intended to harm existing employee contracts or retirement benefits. The rules take effect July 1, 2027. One focus day falls before instruction begins, one in December, and one in April.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Chapter 119, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Apr 1Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026Major
- Mar 19To Governor 3/19/2026To Governor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026 - House JournalMajor
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded EFFECT Jul 01, 2027. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate amended House amendment and passed bill. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective July 1, 2027. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026 - Senate JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to Senate
- Mar 14Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 699)
- Mar 14House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 698)
- Mar 14House received Senate message
- Mar 14Senate requests House to concur
- Mar 14Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 636)
- Mar 14Senate amended House amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 635)
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 12Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded EFFECT Jul 01, 2027. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 479)
- Mar 12Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 12Passed House (Roll No. 478)Passed House
- Mar 12Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11Postponed on 3rd reading, Special Calendar, until 3/12/2026
- Mar 11On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 10Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 10Amendment reported by the Clerk
- Mar 10Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 10On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 9Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 9Immediate consideration
- Mar 9With amendment, do passMinor
- Mar 3Markup Discussion
- Feb 23To House EducationMinor
- Feb 23To EducationMinor
- Feb 23Introduced in HouseMinor
- Feb 23House received Senate message
- Feb 21Ordered to House
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective July 1, 2027. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 21Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 188)
- Feb 21Passed Senate (Roll No. 187)Passed Senate
- Feb 21Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 21On 3rd reading
- Feb 20Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 20On 2nd reading
- Feb 19Read 1st timeMinor
- Feb 19On 1st reading
- Feb 18Committee substitute reported
- Feb 9To EducationMinor
- Feb 9Introduced in SenateMinor
- Feb 9To EducationMinor
- Feb 9Filed for introductionIntroduced
Education