Bill

Bill > SB890


WV SB890

WV SB890
Changing certain school calendar requirements from days or months to hours


summary

Introduced
02/09/2026
In Committee
02/23/2026
Crossed Over
02/21/2026
Passed
04/01/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/01/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT to amend and reenact §18-5-45 and §18-28-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the school calendar; defining employment term and instructional term; prohibiting a teacher from being required to use school preparation days for any other purpose besides the preparation for the opening of school or for school closing; requiring noninstructional days to include three Educator Focus Days to be used as determined by classroom teachers for activities that will improve instruction; requiring faculty senate meetings to occur on Educator Focus Days; providing a schedule for these days to be used during the instructional term; reducing the number of days to be used as designated by the county board; changing minimum public school 180-instructional day requirement to a minimum 900-instructional hour requirement; allowing state board rule to clarify certain school calendar requirements and address any unforeseen issues that might arise from changing from an instructional day requirement to an instructional hour requirement; providing that nothing in this section as amended during the 2026 regular session of the Legislature is intended to adversely modify any existing employment contracts or retirement benefits for county personnel; and allowing nonpublic schools to deliver instruction through alternative methods that count toward up to 25 hours of instructional time when schools are closed due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstance.

AI Summary

This bill shifts West Virginia's school calendar requirements from a minimum of 180 instructional days to a minimum of 900 instructional hours, with the state board of education empowered to create rules to clarify these changes and address any unforeseen issues. The bill also defines "instructional hour" as time spent on instruction and related academic activities, and "employment term" as at least a 200-day contract for school personnel. It mandates that teachers cannot be required to use preparation days for anything other than preparing for the opening or closing of school, and introduces three "Educator Focus Days" within the school year, to be determined by teachers for activities that improve instruction, with faculty senate meetings scheduled on these days. Additionally, county boards will have fewer days designated solely by them, and nonpublic schools will be allowed to count up to 25 hours of instruction delivered through alternative methods, such as remote learning, towards their instructional time when schools are closed due to inclement weather or other emergencies. Importantly, these changes are not intended to negatively impact existing employment contracts or retirement benefits for county personnel.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (5)

Last Action

Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 (on 04/01/2026)

Bill Topics

Education
  • ‐ Elementary and Secondary Education
Labor and Employment
  • ‐ Working Conditions and Hours

bill text


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bill summary

Document Type Source Location Created
State Bill Page http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=890&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill 02/09/2026
BillText http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb890%20sub1%20enr.htm&yr=2026&sesstype=RS&i=890 03/18/2026
sb890 sfa martin _1 3-14 adopted http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2026/RS/floor_amends/sb890%20sfa%20martin%20_1%203-14%20adopted.htm 03/14/2026
sb890 sfa martin _1 3-14 http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2026/RS/floor_amends/sb890%20sfa%20martin%20_1%203-14.htm 03/14/2026
sb890 sfat martin _1 3-14 adopted http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2026/RS/floor_amends/sb890%20sfat%20martin%20_1%203-14%20adopted.htm 03/14/2026
sb890 sfat martin _1 3-14 http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2026/RS/floor_amends/sb890%20sfat%20martin%20_1%203-14.htm 03/14/2026
sb890 hfat statler 3-10 adopted http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2026/RS/floor_amends/sb890%20hfat%20statler%203-10%20adopted.htm 03/12/2026
sb890 h edu am _1 adopted adopted http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2026/RS/com_amends/sb890%20h%20edu%20am%20_1%20adopted%20adopted.htm 03/10/2026
sb890 h edu am _1 adopted http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2026/RS/com_amends/sb890%20h%20edu%20am%20_1%20adopted.htm 03/10/2026
sb890 hfat statler 3-10 http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2026/RS/floor_amends/sb890%20hfat%20statler%203-10.htm 03/10/2026
sb890 h edu am _1 http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2026/RS/com_amends/sb890%20h%20edu%20am%20_1.htm 03/06/2026
BillText http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb890%20sub1.htm&yr=2026&sesstype=RS&i=890 02/18/2026
Fiscal Note - Education, WV State Board of http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Fiscalnotes/FN(2)/fnsubmit_recordview1.cfm?RecordID=956763788 02/17/2026
BillText http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb890%20intr.htm&yr=2026&sesstype=RS&i=890 02/09/2026
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