SB 216 is advancing and will likely be voted on soon by the full senate. This bill removes nearly all state oversight from private schools. It’s important to remember that private schools receive millions of dollars in public funding via the Hope Scholarship. However, if this bill passes, private schools will not be required to administer any formal testing, track or report attendance, set curriculum objectives, or even meet a minimum hours of instruction.
In committee, one senator compared private schools to grocery stores and argued that these schools should be run with “free market capitalism” – meaning, no rules – where the only repercussion for failure is a failed business. But the truth is, this bill would set WV children up for failure through no fault of their own.
LWVWV believes that all schools should be accountable for ensuring our kids receive an adequate education.
ACTION: Contact your WV Senators (you have two!) and tell them you oppose SB 216 and they should too!
BILL STATUS: This bill passed through the Senate School Choice Committee on 1/28/2026. It will now go to the Senate floor. If it passes there, it will go to the House.
*If you don’t know who your Senators are, enter your home address at: https://pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator/ and click on your Senators to find their contact information.
Senate Bill 216 Text: https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb216%20intr.htm&yr=2026&sesstype=RS&i=216