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Bill

SB 972

Relating to education placements during child abuse and neglect investigations

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Charles Clements and 7 co-sponsors

West Virginia bill establishing education placement protocols for children during child abuse and neglect investigations to maintain school stability.

Motion to table previous motion adopted (Roll No. 270)
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Bill Summary · SB 972

Legislative bill overview

SB 972 addresses where children are placed in school during active child abuse and neglect investigations. The bill appears to establish protocols for educational continuity when child protective services are investigating a family, potentially allowing children to remain in their current school rather than being displaced during the investigation process.

Why is this important

Educational stability is recognized as crucial for child welfare and academic outcomes, particularly during traumatic periods. Keeping children in familiar school environments during investigations can reduce additional disruption while authorities assess safety concerns, though it must be balanced against protecting other students if credible threats exist.

Potential points of contention

  • School safety vs. continuity: Whether schools have adequate authority and information to assess if keeping a child in their current placement poses risks to other students or staff during an active investigation
  • Parental access and investigation interference: Concerns about whether placement policies might inadvertently enable continued contact between accused individuals and the child or other students
  • Information sharing requirements: Unclear boundaries around what investigation details schools must receive to make informed placement decisions while respecting privacy and due process rights
  • Implementation consistency: How placement decisions will be standardized across different counties and school districts with varying resources

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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