FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 15, 2026
Time Requested: 05:04 PM |
| Agency: |
Education, WV State Board of |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 1743 |
Introduced |
SB409 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Education (K12) |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
0313
Sources of Revenue:
Other Fund Federal Funding
Legislation creates:
Increases Existing Expenses
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
This legislation creates the High School Educator Flexibility Act of 2026 proposed to expand instructional capacity in high schools by providing districts with greater flexibility to staff high-quality, specialized courses. The Act establishes a permanent, course-specific teaching permit that allows eligible, currently certified educators to teach approved high-quality courses outside their formal endorsement areas upon completion of rigorous, provider-approved professional learning aligned to the course content. By recognizing vetted non-profit providers, structured professional learning, and partnerships with postsecondary institutions and industry, the Act aims to ensure instructional quality while reducing staffing barriers and enabling timely student access to in-demand, high-quality coursework. This legislation, in its current form, would require the creation of new state administrative capacity, including additional personnel, information systems, and compliance mechanisms. Initial implementation costs are estimated between $220,000 and $370,000, with ongoing annual costs ranging from $160,000 to $250,000. Additional costs would be incurred by educators and local education agencies for required professional learning. The legislation creates ongoing fiscal obligations without a dedicated funding source and presents potential long-term risks related to program expansion, oversight, and quality control.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2026
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2027
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
300,000 |
500,000 |
500,000 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
This legislation would likely require a minimum of one new program coordinator and administrative support at the state level, totaling $130,000 to $180,000 per year to approve providers, review courses, respond to district inquiries, monitor compliance, process certificates, verify documents, and maintain records. Additionally, districts are likely to incur costs associated with required trainings, potential coverage for substitute teachers during training times, and an increased load on their human resource office for monitoring completion and compliance with the requirements of this Bill. Based on current vacancies, this would total between $10,000 and $380,000 per district, per year, depending on district size and personnel needs.
Memorandum
West Virginia does not currently issue conditional teaching licenses as addressed on line 20, which makes the school district’s cost difficult to estimate.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Tina Payne
Email Address: tina.a.payne@k12.wv.us