Bill > HB5478

This bill establishes the "Kindergarten Readiness Touchpad Pilot Program" to address the finding that many West Virginia children enter kindergarten without essential early literacy and numeracy skills, with access to quality early learning resources varying by income and location. The program, administered by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), will distribute durable, child-friendly learning devices called "touchpads" that are preloaded with educational applications designed to function without internet access, aiming to reduce opportunity gaps and support parents as primary educators. Eligible children are those aged three or four, or rising kindergartners, residing in West Virginia, and meeting specific income or program participation criteria, such as eligibility for Head Start, WV Pre-K, WIC, SNAP, Medicaid, or foster/kinship care, or other risk factors identified by the WVDE. The WVDE will coordinate with various state agencies and community partners to select participating counties based on readiness indicators, poverty levels, digital access barriers, and partner capacity, and will provide families with ongoing support, including tip sheets, training videos, and suggested routines. The program will also prioritize data privacy and child protection, complying with relevant laws, and will undergo annual evaluation and reporting to the Legislative Oversight on Education Accountability, with metrics including distribution reach, caregiver engagement, and measures of school readiness skills, all funded through a dedicated "Kindergarten Readiness Touchpad Pilot Program Fund" that will not draw from the General Revenue Fund.

Budget and Finance, Education

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=5478&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill