West VirginiaSB 8902026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Changing certain school calendar requirements from days or months to hours

Sponsored By: Rollan A. Roberts (Republican)

Signed by Governor

§18-5-45§18-28-2

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Private schools: 900 hours and safety

Private, parochial, and religious schools must provide 900 instructional hours each year. Up to 25 hours of alternative instruction can count when schools close for weather or emergencies. Schools must keep attendance and immunization records and let parents see attendance. They must allow fire, health, and safety inspections, follow bus safety rules, and keep a crisis response plan. On request from the county superintendent, they must provide names and addresses of enrolled students ages 7 to 16. Attendance at a compliant private school satisfies compulsory attendance.

200-day terms and educator time

School employees have at least a 200‑day employment term, not counting weekends. Within that term, there are 20 noninstructional days, including seven paid holidays, Election Day, opening and closing days, three Educator Focus Days, and other set days. Counties may schedule up to 25 educator‑only hours without students; these do not count as instructional hours. State‑approved alternative‑instruction hours also count as employment days. County boards may offer longer employment contracts.

900 hours and makeup time rules

Public schools must give at least 900 instructional hours each year. When schools close, up to 25 hours of state‑approved alternative instruction can count toward the 900 hours. If hours still fall short, counties must add time on scheduled days or use available or out‑of‑calendar days, but not holidays, Election Day, weekends, or the 25 educator‑activity hours. Counties must also recover minutes lost to late starts or early dismissals. During a declared disaster or emergency, the state superintendent can lower the minimum instructional hours in that county.

Local calendars with state oversight

County boards choose the start and end of the school term. They must hold at least two public meetings and publish meeting notices in a local newspaper. Counties must get calendar approval from the State Board or state superintendent. The State Board can grant waivers to help counties reach 900 hours and must write rules to run this system.

What counts as class time and tests

Extracurricular activities do not count as instructional time. The State Board sets what cocurricular activities are and how much time they can take. Schools must cut non‑teaching interruptions so teachers can teach. The State Board schedules the main statewide tests no earlier than 150 instructional hours before school ends, unless the test requires earlier timing.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Rollan A. Roberts
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

T. Kevan Bartlett
Republican • Senate
Vince Deeds
Republican • Senate
Scott Fuller
Republican • Senate
Amy Grady
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 479 • No: 22

House vote • 3/14/2026

Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 699)

Yes: 96 • No: 1

House vote • 3/14/2026

House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 698)

Yes: 93 • No: 3

Senate vote • 3/14/2026

Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 636)

Yes: 32 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/14/2026

Senate amended House amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 635)

Yes: 26 • No: 8

House vote • 3/12/2026

Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 479)

Yes: 91 • No: 1

House vote • 3/12/2026

Passed House (Roll No. 478)

Yes: 90 • No: 2

Senate vote • 2/21/2026

Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 188)

Yes: 28 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/21/2026

Passed Senate (Roll No. 187)

Yes: 23 • No: 5

Actions Timeline

Approved by Governor 4/1/2026
4/1/2026Senate
To Governor 3/19/2026
3/19/2026Senate
House Message received
3/14/2026Senate
Senate amended House amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 635)
3/14/2026Senate
Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 636)
3/14/2026Senate
Senate requests House to concur
3/14/2026Senate
House received Senate message
3/14/2026House
House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 698)
3/14/2026House
Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 699)
3/14/2026House
Communicated to Senate
3/14/2026House
Completed legislative action
3/14/2026House
House Message received
3/14/2026Senate
To Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate Journal
3/14/2026Senate
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal
3/14/2026Senate
Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal
3/14/2026House
Read 3rd time
3/12/2026House
Passed House (Roll No. 478)
3/12/2026House
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
3/12/2026House
Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 479)
3/12/2026House
Communicated to Senate
3/12/2026House
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
3/11/2026House
Postponed on 3rd reading, Special Calendar, until 3/12/2026
3/11/2026House
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
3/10/2026House
Read 2nd time
3/10/2026House
Amendment reported by the Clerk
3/10/2026House

Bill Text

Committee Substitute
HTML PDF
Enrolled
HTML PDF
Introduced Version
HTML PDF

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