Bill > HB4104

This bill, titled the American Civics and History Act, mandates that all West Virginia public schools provide at least one semester of instruction in U.S. history, one semester in the governments of the U.S. and West Virginia, and one semester in American civics before students complete the eighth grade and again before they complete the twelfth grade. These courses are designed to teach democratic ideals, economic freedom, and the structure of government, including concepts like the separation of powers and checks and balances, using primary sources and interactive methods. The West Virginia State Board of Education will set the curriculum, and all instructional materials must be reviewed for accuracy and suitability by the West Virginia Department of Education in consultation with educators, parents, and others. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, high school students will take a civics test similar to the one used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and aggregate, non-personally identifiable data on student performance will be reported and made publicly available by the Department of Education. The bill also clarifies that while controversial issues can be discussed from multiple perspectives, students and teachers cannot be compelled to personally affirm any belief on such matters, and this instruction is meant to add to, not replace, existing state requirements.