This bill aims to enhance educational access for military-connected students in West Virginia by amending existing laws and introducing new provisions. It defines "military-connected student" and establishes guidelines for advance enrollment, allowing these students to register remotely without incurring fees, provided they present military orders. The bill ensures that military-connected students have equitable access to academic and extracurricular activities, and mandates that local education agencies coordinate promptly with parents and previous schools to facilitate the transfer of students with disabilities. Additionally, it requires local education agencies to provide support services, including counseling, when a military parent is activated for duty.

The bill also includes provisions for notifying teachers about the enrollment of military-connected students to ensure they receive appropriate academic support. It extends the same rights to children of National Guard and Reserve members as those of active-duty military families, particularly regarding transfers between states. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining placement stability, allowing students to remain in their enrolled school until they complete the highest grade level. The bill modifies existing language in the Code of West Virginia, specifically in 18-5-16, to include military-connected students in the enrollment preference criteria, thereby enhancing their educational opportunities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2L-1, 18-2L-2, 18-2L-3, 18-2L-4, 18-2L-5, 18-2L-6, 18-2L-7, 18-2L-8