SB 409
High School Educator Flexibility Act of 2026
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House of Delegates
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
The High School Educator Flexibility Act of 2026 aims to increase teacher flexibility in West Virginia by allowing certified educators to teach high-quality courses outside their traditional subject area endorsements. This is achieved through a new ‘course-specific teaching permit’ that requires completion of approved professional learning directly related to the course being taught. The bill also establishes criteria for ‘high-quality courses’ and provides funding guarantees for instructors utilizing this permit, particularly in career-technical education programs.
Key provisions
- Establishes a ‘course-specific teaching permit’ for educators without specific subject area endorsements.
- Requires completion of ‘approved professional learning’ to obtain a course-specific permit.
- Defines ‘high-quality courses’ based on partnerships with postsecondary institutions and industry representatives.
- Creates a list of approved high-quality courses, approved providers, and approved professional learning experiences maintained by the Board of Education.
- Provides funding guarantees for instructors with course-specific permits in career-technical education programs.
- Clarifies the role of local education agencies in assigning teachers with permits.
- Defines ‘approved professional learning’ with specific requirements regarding clock hours, anchoring to course frameworks, and provider vetting.
- Establishes criteria for ‘approved providers’ including U.S.-based, non-profit organizations publishing curriculum frameworks.
Who is affected
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yours