HB 5683 — Relating to graduation requirements for public schools

ORG HB state board shall promulgate rules providing for minimum requirements for graduation WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION OriginatingENGROSSED House Bill 5683 By Delegate Toney [Originating February 24, 2026 in the Committee on Education] ORGEng HB 5683 A BILL to amend and reenact §18-2-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, providing that the state board shall promulgate rules providing for minimum requirements for graduation from the public schools of the state, which may include course credits, competency demonstrations, and/or assessments as the board determines necessary to ensure that graduates are prepared for postsecondary education or gainful employment.

(3) Students who have completed a secondary education program in a public, private, or home school and have continued to be enrolled in a program leading to an advanced certification ORGEng HB 5683 or an advanced career education program shall be considered adults enrolled in regular secondary programs in accordance with §18-9A-2(i) of this code:

ORGEng HB 5683 (e) The state board shall establish up to five pilot projects at the elementary or middle school levels, or both, that employ alternative schools or other placements for disruptive students to learn appropriate behaviors so they can return to the regular classroom without further disrupting the learning environment.

(g) The state board shall promulgate a rule to support the operation of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program operated by the Adjutant General and known as the Mountaineer Challenge Academy which is designated as a special alternative education program pursuant to §15-1B-24 of this code for students who are at risk of not succeeding in the traditional school ORGEng HB 5683 structure.

(5) Consideration of eligibility to take the high school equivalency tests by qualifying within the extraordinary circumstances provisions established by state board rule for a student ORGEng HB 5683 participating in the Mountaineer Challenge Academy special alternative education program who does not meet any other criteria for eligibility;

however, ORGEng HB 5683 the circumstances involved with a becoming at risk often are complex and may include influences both within and outside of the school environment;

ORG HB state board shall promulgate rules providing for minimum requirements for graduation NOTE:

The purpose of this bill is to provide that the state board shall prescribe minimum requirements for graduation from the public schools of the state.

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