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West VirginiaSB 8902026 Regular SessionSenate

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.

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

Senate vote • 3/14/2026

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

Yes: 26 • No: 8

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

House vote • 3/14/2026

Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 699)

Yes: 96 • No: 1

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

Passed Senate (Roll No. 187)

Yes: 23 • No: 5

Senate vote • 2/21/2026

Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 188)

Yes: 28 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 119, Acts, Regular Session, 2026

    6/25/2026Senate

  2. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026

    4/1/2026Senate

  3. To Governor 3/19/2026

    3/19/2026Senate

  4. House Message received

    3/14/2026Senate

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

    3/14/2026Senate

  6. Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 636)

    3/14/2026Senate

  7. Senate requests House to concur

    3/14/2026Senate

  8. House received Senate message

    3/14/2026House

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

    3/14/2026House

  10. Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 699)

    3/14/2026House

  11. Communicated to Senate

    3/14/2026House

  12. Completed legislative action

    3/14/2026House

  13. House Message received

    3/14/2026Senate

  14. To Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  15. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal

    3/14/2026Senate

  16. Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal

    3/14/2026House

  17. Read 3rd time

    3/12/2026House

  18. Passed House (Roll No. 478)

    3/12/2026House

  19. Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

    3/12/2026House

  20. Effective July 1, 2027 (Roll No. 479)

    3/12/2026House

  21. Communicated to Senate

    3/12/2026House

  22. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

    3/11/2026House

  23. Postponed on 3rd reading, Special Calendar, until 3/12/2026

    3/11/2026House

  24. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

    3/10/2026House

  25. Read 2nd time

    3/10/2026House

Bill Text

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