The proposed bill, known as Raylee's Law, seeks to amend the Code of West Virginia to enhance protections for home-schooled children against potential abuse or neglect. It prohibits the authorization of home instruction for any child if there is an ongoing child abuse or neglect investigation involving the custodial parent, guardian, or instructor, initiated by school personnel. The county superintendent is tasked with developing a policy to ensure they are informed of such reports and must request confirmation of the case status from the Department of Human Services. If the investigation is not substantiated within 14 days, home instruction may be authorized. Additionally, if a request for home instruction is denied, the county board must provide written justification for the denial.

The bill also introduces new requirements for academic assessments, including a written narrative from teachers detailing a child's progress and the initiation of remedial programs if necessary. Parents or guardians are required to maintain copies of these assessments for three years and submit results to the county superintendent. Learning pods and microschools are included under the home instruction provisions but are not classified as homeschooling. The bill mandates that any learning pod or microschool with a student requiring special education must comply with specific regulations, including the installation of video cameras to protect exceptional students. Overall, Raylee's Law aims to balance educational standards with the safeguarding of children in home instruction settings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-8-1