West Virginia House Bill HB2806

West Virginia 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/12/22
• Refer: 1/12/22
• Refer: 2/22/22

Caption

To allow parents to retain their child without losing a year of sports eligibility

Impact

The bill modifies existing educational laws to accommodate students' needs stemming from the pandemic, specifically addressing learning loss that many have experienced. According to the provisions, a local board of education must decide by June 30, 2021, whether to allow students to utilize the supplemental year, thus giving districts a degree of flexibility while standardizing procedures across the state. Furthermore, the bill reassures that retaken courses will count towards full-time enrollment, although they will not count for graduation credits unless a student failed originally. This can significantly assist students in regaining their academic footing.

Summary

House Bill 2806 aims to provide West Virginia high school students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with a supplemental year for their studies. The bill allows students enrolled in public schools during the 2020-2021 academic year to request the 2021-2022 school year as an additional year to retake or supplement courses already taken. Importantly, this allows students to complete their education without the jeopardy of losing eligibility for sports or other school activities while meeting necessary requirements. The intention is to help students manage disrupted learning and ensure they can graduate successfully.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment surrounding HB 2806 appears positive, with many educators and parents seeing it as a much-needed support mechanism for students adversely affected by the pandemic. The bipartisan effort in introducing the bill indicates a collective recognition of the challenges posed by COVID-19, although the implementation varies at the district level, which has raised some concerns regarding uniformity in how these opportunities are extended to students across the state.

Contention

One notable point of contention may arise regarding the criteria for awarding the supplemental year and the eligibility process for students. While the bill establishes clear protocols for requesting additional time, questions remain about how effectively local boards will implement these changes and whether all affected students will have equal access to this extended educational opportunity. Additionally, there may be debates about long-term effects on student performance and educational standards resulting from such adjustments.