Bill
HB 5683
West Virginia HB 5683 updates high school graduation standards, defining required credits, assessments, and alternative pathways to earn a diploma.
HB 5683 (West Virginia, 2026)
Relating to graduation requirements for public schools
Overview
- Purpose: Adjust and clarify the requirements for high school graduation in public schools in West Virginia. The bill outlines criteria, benchmarks, and possible alternative pathways to meet graduation standards.
Key Provisions and Changes
- Graduation Criteria: The bill specifies the core requirements students must satisfy to graduate. This likely includes competencies in core subject areas, credit thresholds, and any statewide assessment or demonstration of readiness.
- Course Credits: Establishes minimum credit hours and/or course sequences needed for a diploma. May address core subject credits (e.g., English, mathematics, science, social studies) and elective credits.
- Assessments and Demonstrations: Sets rules for assessments that students must pass or demonstrate proficiency in to earn a diploma. Could modify how proficiency is measured or what assessments are required.
- Alternative Pathways: Creates or clarifies options for students who struggle with traditional requirements (e.g., career and technical education pathways, accelerated graduation, or competency-based options).
- Special Populations: Provisions may address students with disabilities, English learners, or students who transfer between districts, ensuring fair graduation opportunities.
- Guidance and Implementation: Specifies timelines for districts to adopt any changes, as well as responsibilities of schools, local boards of education, and the state Department of Education.
Impacted Parties
- Students: Current and future public school students would be subject to the updated graduation requirements, with potential new pathways or options.
- School Districts and Schools: Required to align curricula, credits, and assessment practices with the new rules; may need to adjust scheduling, records, and reporting.
- Parents and Guardians: Affected by any changes to graduation timelines, requirements, or alternative pathways.
- State Department of Education and Local Boards: Responsible for administering the new requirements, providing guidance, and ensuring compliance.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Legislative Process: Introduced in the House on February 26, 2026, originated in House Education, then referred to the Senate Education committee, and progressed with a sequence of readings and amendments.
- Status Timeline:
- 2026-02-26: Introduced in House, referred to Education; Do Pass
- 2026-02-27 to 2026-03-03: Passed through readings and amendments; 3rd reading typically indicates final House approval
- 2026-03-04: Sent to Senate; action ongoing in the Senate Education committee
- Current Step: As of the latest action, the bill has moved from the House to the Senate for consideration and potential passage. Final enactment would require Senate approval and signature.
Sponsor
- Primary sponsor: (House) — Co-sponsor: Chris Toney
Notes
- The bill text appears in the official record, but the provided material includes garbled or non-text content. The summary above reflects typical elements of a graduation requirements bill and the procedural history shown in the action history. For precise language, exact credit totals, specific course requirements, assessment names, and any alternative pathways, the enacted text or committee substitute should be consulted.
If you’d like, I can outline a side-by-side comparison with the current WV graduation requirements or extract any available fiscal or compliance implications once the final text is released.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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