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HB 4697WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill Requires Schools to Inform Upperclassmen in Free Periods About Online College Courses

Original title: Require that any student in the 11th or 12th grade, who has been placed in a “free/elective/assistant” period, be informed of online college course opportunities available for them

Last action · February 3, 2026: Markup DiscussionSponsors: Josh Holstein and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia schools must inform 11th and 12th-grade students assigned to a free or about available online college course opportunities, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Why it matters

High school upperclassmen with unassigned periods gain formal notice of postsecondary educational options, affecting how they plan their remaining coursework and college pathways.

Background

West Virginia House Bill 4697 was introduced during the 2026 regular legislative session by Delegates Holstein and Coop-Gonzalez and referred to the Committee on Education. context

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.

Directly affected

11th and 12th grade students

Students with unassigned periods or teacher-assistant classes must receive information regarding available online college courses starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Directly affected

Public schools

Schools must provide verbal, written, school-wide, or county-wide notices about online college courses to eligible upperclassmen.

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

Which students are required to be informed about online college courses?

All students in the 11th or 12th grade who have a daily scheduled 'free' or 'teacher-assistant' period or class must be informed.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

5 actions

Feb 3, 2026House
Markup Discussion
Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Education
Jan 21, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
To Education
Jan 21, 2026HouseIntroduced
Filed 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.

Connected Entities

American Red Cross, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, West Virginia Legislature and 3 more

OrganizationAmerican Red Cross“Provides instructional programs for cardiopulmonary resuscitation”Map →

OrganizationUnited States Citizenship and Immigration Services“Administers the naturalization test referenced for civics education”Map →

OrganizationWest Virginia Legislature“Legislative body introducing and considering the bill”Map →

OrganizationState Board of Education“Board responsible for prescribing courses of study and standards”Map →

OrganizationDepartment of Health“Consulted for health education curriculum requirements”Map →

OrganizationAmerican Heart Association“Provides instructional programs for cardiopulmonary resuscitation”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 40)
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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