Bill > HB4119

This bill establishes the West Virginia TEACH Scholarship Program, also known as "The Education and Child-Care Help Scholarship Program," to address the state's child-care crisis and improve workforce participation. The program, administered by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC), aims to provide financial assistance for individuals pursuing associate or bachelor's degrees in early childhood education (ECE) at eligible institutions, which include state community and technical colleges and publicly supported four-year colleges or universities. To qualify, applicants must be West Virginia residents, have completed high school, not hold a post-secondary degree, be at least 18 years old and employed at least 20 hours per week at an eligible child-care facility (defined as a facility caring for six or more children for more than 30 days per year), and meet admission requirements for an eligible institution. Scholarships will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, after deducting other financial aid, and are paid directly to the institutions. Recipients must maintain a 2.0 GPA, make satisfactory progress in their ECE program, continue working at an eligible child-care facility, and pass a drug test. Scholarship recipients must sign an agreement that may require repayment if they move out of state within two years of obtaining their degree, though exceptions exist for military service, disability, or further study. A dedicated fund, the West Virginia TEACH Scholarship Program Fund, will be established to administer and disburse these scholarships. The HEPC is required to report annually to the Legislature and Governor on the program's progress.