House 2143

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2025 REGULAR SESSION

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 2143

By Delegates Statler, Ellington, and Toney

[Introduced February 12, 2025; referred
to the Committee on Education]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18A-3-13, relating to requiring elementary school teachers to receive an endorsement in the science of reading.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 3. TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, LICENSING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

§18A-3-13. Endorsement in the science of reading for elementary school teachers.

Beginning not later than the 2026-2027 school year, each Kindergarten through Grade 5 public school teacher and public charter school teacher providing literacy instruction shall be trained using high quality professional learning that incorporates ongoing, intensive training in the science of reading that includes classroom application activities and live sessions spanning multiple school years as approved and provided through the West Virginia Department of Education. Currently employed educators in Kindergarten through Grade 5 providing literacy instruction in West Virginia shall enroll in the approved professional learning no later than the 2027/2028 school year.  Newly employed teachers providing literacy instruction in Kindergarten through Grade 5 shall enroll in their first year of employment. Educators who have successfully completed the approved training shall submit an application for the Science of Reading endorsement free of charge. The State Board may provide accommodations for those counties whose educators are in the process of obtaining this endorsement.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require elementary school teachers in this state to receive an endorsement in the science of reading.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.