West Virginia allows up to five educational leave days for students and sets parent-note requirements

Original title: Allowing up to five educational leave days within definition of "excused absence"

Last action · March 2, 2026: To EducationSponsors: Mike Oliverio and 1 other

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Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia allows students up to five educational leave days per school year as s, provided parents submit an explanatory note within three days of the student's return. School principals and attendance directors may refuse to count a day as educational leave if the activity does not meet upcoming state board rules.

Why it matters

Parents and students gain a new category of for educational travel or experiences, but face strict documentation deadlines and state board rules to avoid truancy penalties.

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

West Virginia public school students

Students can now use up to five educational leave days per year without accumulating unexcused absences, provided documentation is submitted on time.

Directly affected

parents, guardians, and custodians

Parents must submit explanatory notes within three days of a student's return to school to secure excused absence status for educational leave.

Directly affected

school principals and county attendance directors

School officials gain the authority to review educational leave explanations and refuse to count days that do not meet state board standards.

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 many educational leave days can a student take?

A student may take up to five educational leave days per school year, subject to a parent note and upcoming state board rules.

What happens if a parent fails to submit a note within three days?

If documentation is not provided within three instructional days after the student returns to school, the absences are classified as unexcused.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

17 actions

Mar 2, 2026HouseCommittee
To Education
Feb 27, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Education
Feb 27, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2026House
House received Senate message
Feb 26, 2026Senate
Ordered to House
Feb 26, 2026SenateFloor
Passed Senate (Roll No. 247)

Show 11 earlier actions

Feb 26, 2026Senate
Read 3rd time
Feb 26, 2026Senate
On 3rd reading
Feb 25, 2026Senate
Read 2nd time
Feb 25, 2026Senate
On 2nd reading
Feb 24, 2026Senate
Read 1st time
Feb 24, 2026Senate
Immediate consideration
Feb 24, 2026Senate
Committee substitute reported
Feb 20, 2026SenateCommittee
To Education
Feb 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate
Feb 20, 2026SenateCommittee
To Education
Feb 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

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