Bill > HB4950

This bill, titled the West Virginia Freedom and Innovation Pilot Act of 2026, establishes a pilot program allowing any county in West Virginia to participate, offering them a block grant of $5,775 per enrolled student as of December 2025, with a potential 1% annual increase thereafter if enrollment grows. Counties opting into this program would be exempt from certain existing state regulations, such as staffing ratios and central salary schedules, but must still adhere to the Third Grade Success Act and any federal requirements; however, they would retain full control over their salaries, benefits, class sizes, and calendars, with a stipulation that administrator salaries cannot exceed seven percent of the county's total annual budget, defining "administrators" broadly to include various leadership and supervisory roles. Counties that do not participate will continue under the current School Aid Formula, and local contributions for benefits like the Public Employees' Insurance Agency (PEIA) and retirement systems will remain unchanged. The pilot program is set to begin on July 1, 2026, and will be reviewed by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability (LOCEA) by July 1, 2031, at which point it will either end or be extended.

Education

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4950&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill