The proposed bill, known as "The High School Educator Flexibility Act of 2026," aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by establishing a new framework for course-specific teaching permits. It introduces definitions for key terms such as "approved professional learning," "approved provider," "eligible educator," and "high-quality course." The bill outlines the requirements for professional learning experiences, which must consist of at least 30 clock hours of instruction and be facilitated by vetted providers. It also specifies the criteria for eligible educators, including those certified through alternative pathways and those holding conditional teaching licenses.

Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a course-specific teaching permit that allows eligible educators to teach high-quality courses outside their formally endorsed certification areas, provided they complete the necessary professional learning. This permit will be permanently issued upon completion of the training and will enable educators to begin classroom instruction immediately. Public school districts will have the authority to assign educators with these permits to classrooms that require specialized instructional capacity. The Board of Education is tasked with maintaining an updated list of approved high-quality courses, providers, and professional learning experiences.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2L-1, 18-2L-2, 18-2L-3