This bill aims to modernize educational programs and technologies in West Virginia to better prepare students for future workforce needs. It introduces provisions for local fiscal bodies to enter into multi-year contracts for procuring educational materials that include a technology licensing service component, provided they can demonstrate material fiscal savings. The bill also extends the Mountain State Digital Project to include grades 9-12 and adds educational support and tutoring in subjects such as reading, mathematics, science, and career-technical education. Additionally, it authorizes the Department of Education to retain $7,100,000 from the foundational allowance for the 2026-2027 school year to train kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers in the science of reading.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a new section for the endorsement in the Science of Reading for elementary school teachers, mandating that all kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers providing literacy instruction undergo intensive training in this area starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The training will include ongoing professional learning and classroom application activities, with specific enrollment timelines for currently employed and newly hired teachers. Teachers who complete the training will receive a certificate at no cost, and public charter school educators may also opt to participate in this training.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-8-26, 18-2E-12, 18-9A-10, 18A-3-13
Committee Substitute: 11-8-26, 18-2E-12, 18-9A-10, 18A-3-13