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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia sets 30-day evaluation limit and rapid IEP transfer rules for foster children
Last action · March 4, 2026: To EducationSponsors: Joe Statler and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
West Virginia caps the initial educational evaluation period at 30 days for foster care or transition home students, and requires immediate transfer of special education plans followed by a school meeting within five days.
Changes school timelines for foster and transition students by forcing districts to complete evaluations within a month and review transferred support plans in under a week, impacting administrative turnaround for local educational staff.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Children entering foster care
Their initial educational evaluation periods are capped at 30 days and their support plans must be transferred and reviewed within tighter deadlines.
Schools
They must immediately transfer IEP and 504 records, complete initial evaluations within 30 days, and convene IEP or SAT meetings within five days of record receipt.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do schools have to evaluate foster children for special education services?
What happens to a foster student's existing IEP or 504 plan when they change schools?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
16 actions- Mar 4, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Education
- Mar 4, 2026SenateCommitteeTo Education
- Mar 4, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
- Mar 2, 2026HouseCommunicated to Senate
- Mar 2, 2026HouseFloorPassed House (Roll No. 242)
- Mar 2, 2026HouseOn 3rd reading, Special Calendar
Show 10 earlier actions
- Feb 27, 2026HouseRead 2nd time
- Feb 27, 2026HouseOn 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 26, 2026HouseRead 1st time
- Feb 26, 2026HouseOn 1st reading, Special Calendar
- Feb 25, 2026HouseBy substitute, do pass
- Feb 23, 2026HouseMarkup Discussion
- Feb 9, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Education
- Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Feb 9, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Education
- Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroducedFiled for introduction
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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