This bill amends the Code of West Virginia concerning compulsory school attendance and outlines specific exemptions for children, including home instruction, physical or mental incapacity, hazardous conditions, and participation in alternative educational programs like learning pods or microschools. It introduces new requirements for parents or guardians providing home instruction, mandating the submission of a notice of intent that includes a verified telephone number and the child's date of birth, as well as the obligation to inform the county superintendent of any changes in residence or contact information. The bill also modifies assessment requirements for children in home instruction or alternative settings, emphasizing participation in the state's public school testing program and requiring benchmark assessments for certain grades.

Additionally, the bill establishes a framework for addressing academic progress in learning pods and microschools, introducing a requirement for a remedial program if a child's annual assessment does not show acceptable growth. It clarifies that the county board must inform parents about special education eligibility services and allows children with disabilities to continue in alternative educational settings. The bill permits learning pods and microschools to submit composite assessment results instead of individual ones and ensures that the county superintendent will provide instructional support. While these alternative educational settings must comply with home instruction provisions, they are explicitly stated to be distinct from homeschooling.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-8-1