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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Enrolled
Senate Bill 155
BY SENATORS GRADY, DEEDS, TAYLOR, AND WILLIS
[Passed March 14, 2026; in effect 90 days from
passage (June 12, 2026)]
Enr SB 155
1 AN ACT to amend and reenact §18A-3-2a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and
2 to amend the code by adding a new section, designated §18A-3-2b, relating to allowing
3 an adjunct teaching permit to be issued to an individual meeting certain specified
4 requirements; permitting an individual with an adjunct teaching permit to be hired to fill a
5 vacant teaching position, offer a new program or class, or to supplement a program
6 currently being offered only if no other teacher holding certification in the subject area is
7 available and accepts the position or assignment; providing that all of certain requirements
8 apply separately to each year of employment under an adjunct teaching permit with one
9 exception; providing that adjunct teacher permit is valid for one year; requiring a county
10 board of education to repost the position each year that it seeks to employ an individual
11 under an adjunct teaching permit; providing that renewal of the permit is contingent upon
12 the teacher's performance meeting a basic standard as determined by an evaluation;
13 allowing adjunct teacher to be employed on a part-time or full-time basis; allowing the
14 compensation to be any amount both the county board and the adjunct teacher agree to;
15 providing that county board is not required to provide any type of employment benefit
16 unless both the county board and the adjunct teacher agree to those benefits; requiring
17 county board and the adjunct teacher enter into a contract; specifying what is to be
18 included in the contract; allowing adjunct teacher to teach in any content area in which the
19 individual is allowed to teach based on the individual’s experience; requiring assignment
20 of a teacher mentor; requiring adjunct teacher to complete certain training and education;
21 prohibiting adjunct teacher from providing special education instruction; requiring each
22 county board that employs an adjunct teacher to report certain information to the West
23 Virginia Department of Education; requiring posting of adjunct teacher position; allowing
24 notification of parents of a vacant adjunct teacher position; and requiring county board to
25 announce any vacant adjunct teacher positions at its meetings.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
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ARTICLE 3. TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, LICENSING, PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT.
§18A-3-2a. Certificates valid in the public schools that may be issued by the State
Superintendent.
1 In accordance with state board rules for the education of professional educators adopted
2 pursuant to §18A-3-1 of this code and subject to the limitations and conditions of that section, the
3 State Superintendent may issue the following certificates valid in the public schools of the state:
4 (a) Professional teaching certificates. —
5 (1) A professional teaching certificate for teaching in the public schools may be issued to
6 a person who meets the following conditions: (A) Holds at least a bachelor’s degree from a
7 regionally accredited institution of higher education, and:
8 (i) Has passed appropriate state board approved basic skills and subject matter tests in
9 the area for which licensure is being sought; and
10 (ii) Has completed a program for the education of teachers which meets the requirements
11 approved by the state board; or
12 (iii) Has met equivalent standards at institutions in other states; or
13 (iv) Has completed three years of successful teaching experience within the last seven
14 years under a license issued by another state in the area for which licensure is being sought; or
15 (v) Has completed an alternative program approved by another state; or
16 (B) Holds at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education,
17 and:
18 (i) Has passed appropriate state board approved basic skills and subject matter tests; and
19 (ii) Has completed an alternative program for teacher education as provided in this article;
20 and
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21 (iii) Is recommended for a certificate in accordance with the provisions of §18A-3-1i of this
22 code relating to the program; and
23 (iv) Is recommended by the State Superintendent based on documentation submitted; or
24 (C) Holds a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, and:
25 (i) Submits to a criminal history check pursuant to §18A-3-10 of this code: Provided, That
26 information discovered during the criminal history check may form the basis for the denial of a
27 certificate for just cause; and
28 (ii) Successfully completes pedagogical training or a pedagogical course or courses in
29 substantive alignment with nationally recognized pedagogical standards, or approved or
30 established by the state board; and
31 (iii) Passes the same subject matter and competency test or tests required by the state
32 board for traditional program applicants for licensure or;
33 (D) Is an honorably discharged member of the armed forces who:
34 (i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education
35 that is related to the available position which the veteran has applied to; and
36 (ii) Has passed the basic skills and subject matter test or tests required by the state board
37 for teachers to become certified in the area for which the licensure is sought; and
38 (iiii) Is exempt from any additional teacher certification requirements except the criminal
39 history check required by §18A-3-10 of this code.
40 (2) The certificate shall be endorsed to indicate the grade level or levels or areas of
41 specialization in which the person is certified to teach or to serve in the public schools.
42 (3) The initial professional certificate is issued provisionally for a period of three years from
43 the date of issuance:
44 (A) The certificate may be converted to a professional certificate valid for five years subject
45 to successful completion of a beginning teacher induction program, if applicable; or
46 (B) The certificate may be renewed subject to rules adopted by the state board.
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47 (4) Teaching certificates granted pursuant to §18A-3-2a(a)(1)(C) of this code shall be
48 equivalent to certificates granted to graduates of teacher preparation programs at public higher
49 education institutions.
50 (b) Alternative program teacher certificate. — An alternative program teacher certificate
51 may be issued to a candidate who is enrolled in an alternative program for teacher education
52 approved by the state board.
53 (1) The certificate is valid only for the alternative program position in which the candidate
54 is employed and is subject to enrollment in the program.
55 (2) The certificate is valid while the candidate is enrolled in the alternative program, up to
56 a maximum of three years, and may not be renewed.
57 (c) Professional administrative certificate. —
58 (1) A professional administrative certificate, endorsed for serving in the public schools,
59 with specific endorsement as a principal, vocational administrator, supervisor of instructions, or
60 superintendent, may be issued to a person who has completed requirements all to be approved
61 by the state board as follows:
62 (A) Holds at least a master’s degree from an institution of higher education accredited to
63 offer a master’s degree, and:
64 (i) Has successfully completed an approved program for administrative certification
65 developed by the state board in cooperation with the chancellor for higher education; and
66 (ii) Has successfully completed education and training in evaluation skills through the
67 Center for Professional Development, or equivalent education and training in evaluation skills
68 approved by the state board; and
69 (iii) Possesses three years of management level experience.
70 (2) Any person serving in the position of dean of students on June 4, 1992, is not required
71 to hold a professional administrative certificate.
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72 (3) The initial professional administrative certificate is issued provisionally for a period of
73 five years. This certificate may be converted to a professional administrative certificate valid for
74 five years or renewed, subject to the regulations of the state board.
75 (d) Paraprofessional certificate. — A paraprofessional certificate may be issued to a
76 person who meets the following conditions:
77 (1) Has completed 36 semester hours of post-secondary education or its equivalent in
78 subjects directly related to performance of the job, all approved by the state board; and
79 (2) Demonstrates the proficiencies to perform duties as required of a paraprofessional as
80 defined in §18A-4-8 of this code.
81 (e) Other certificates; permits. —
82 (1) Other certificates and permits may be issued, subject to the approval of the state board,
83 to persons who do not qualify for the professional or paraprofessional certificate.
84 (2) A certificate or permit may not be given permanent status and a person holding one of
85 these credentials shall meet renewal requirements provided by law and by regulation, unless the
86 state board declares certain of these certificates to be the equivalent of the professional
87 certificate.
88 (3) Within the category of other certificates and permits, the State Superintendent may
89 issue certificates for persons to serve in the public schools as athletic coaches or coaches of other
90 extracurricular activities, whose duties may include the supervision of students, subject to the
91 following limitations:
92 (A) The person is employed under a contract with the county board of education.
93 (i) The contract specifies the duties to be performed, specifies a rate of pay that is
94 equivalent to the rate of pay for professional educators in the district who accept similar duties as
95 extra duty assignments, and provides for liability insurance associated with the activity; and
96 (ii) The person holding this certificate is not considered an employee of the board for salary
97 and benefit purposes other than as specified in the contract.
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98 (B) The person completes an orientation program designed and approved in accordance
99 with state board rules.
100 (f) Clinical teacher of record permit. —
101 (1) A clinical teacher of record permit may be issued to a candidate who is enrolled in a
102 clinical teacher of record program in accordance with an agreement between an institution of
103 higher education and a county board. The agreement is developed pursuant to §18A-3-1(e) of
104 this code and requires approval by the state board.
105 (2) The permit is valid only for the clinical teacher of record program position in which the
106 candidate is enrolled and is subject to enrollment in the program. The permit is valid for no more
107 than one school year and may not be renewed.
108 (g) Temporary teaching certificates for armed forces spouses. —
109 (1) A temporary teaching certificate for an armed forces spouse may be issued to an
110 individual who meets the following criteria:
111 (A) He or she is married to a member of the armed forces of the United States who is on
112 active duty;
113 (B) He or she holds a current unencumbered teaching certificate or license issued by an
114 equivalent credentialing department, board, or authority, as determined by the State
115 Superintendent, in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the
116 United States Virgin Islands, another territory or protectorate of the United States or a foreign
117 country; and
118 (C) He or she provides proof acceptable to the State Superintendent that his or her spouse
119 is assigned to a duty station in this state or at a military installation within 50 air miles of the West
120 Virginia border and that he or she is also assigned to a duty station in this state or at a military
121 installation within 50 air miles of the West Virginia border under his or her spouse’s official active
122 duty military orders.
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123 (2) The State Superintendent shall deny a temporary teaching certificate to an individual
124 described in paragraph (1) of this subdivision for fraud, material misrepresentation or concealment
125 in the person’s application for a temporary teaching certificate or for a conviction for which an
126 individual’s teaching certificate may be revoked under §18A-3-6 of this code.
127 (3) A temporary teaching certificate issued under paragraph (1) of this subdivision is valid
128 for one year and may be renewed for additional one-year terms if the State Superintendent
129 determines the individual holding the temporary teaching certificate continues to meet the
130 requirements of paragraph (1) of this subdivision. The State Superintendent may revoke a
131 temporary teaching certificate for a conviction for which an individual’s teaching certificate may
132 be revoked under §18A-3-6 of this code.
133 (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(3)(B) of this section, teachers with a
134 bachelor’s degree and 10 years teaching experience, with a valid teaching certificate, in good
135 standing, without any unsatisfactory evaluations will be able to apply for and receive a permanent
136 teaching certificate in West Virginia without having to take any additional course work. This
137 subsection shall be effective from passage.
138 (i) Adjunct teaching permit. — An adjunct teacher permit may be issued to an individual
139 who meets the requirements set forth in §18A-3-2b of this code.
§18A-3-2b. Adjunct teaching permit.
1 (a) An individual with an adjunct teaching permit may be hired to fill a vacant teaching
2 position, offer a new program or class, or to supplement a program currently being offered only if
3 no other teacher holding certification in the subject area is available and accepts the position or
4 assignment. All requirements of this section other than the requirement for a criminal history check
5 pursuant to §18A-3-2b(b)(2) of this code apply separately to each year of employment under an
6 adjunct teaching permit.
7 (b) An adjunct teacher permit may be issued to an individual who meets the following
8 requirements:
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Enr SB 155
9 (1) The individual has at least four years of experience in the content area in which the
10 individual intends to teach through employment experience or has a college degree in that content
11 area: Provided, That a related content area that includes the concepts of the content area in which
12 the individual intends to teach satisfies this requirement;
13 (2) The individual submits to the criminal history check of applicants for licensure provided
14 in §18A-3-10 of this code;
15 (3) The individual has not been convicted of a felony or plead guilty or plead no contest to
16 a felony charge or convicted, plead guilty, or plead no contest to any charge involving sexual
17 misconduct with a minor or a student.
18 (c) An adjunct teacher permit is valid for one year from the date of issuance. Each year
19 that a county board seeks to employ an individual under an adjunct teaching permit, the county
20 board shall repost the position. Renewal of the permit is contingent upon the teacher’s
21 performance meeting a basic standard as determined by an evaluation. For this purpose, the
22 state board shall include in its evaluation rule required by §18A-3C-2 of this code a process for
23 the evaluation of teachers holding an adjunct teacher permit.
24 (d) If a county board employs any individual with an adjunct teaching permit issued
25 pursuant to this section:
26 (1) The employment may be on a part-time or full-time basis;
27 (2) The compensation may be any amount both the county board and the adjunct teacher
28 agree to and is not required to be based on §18A-4-2 or any other provision of this code;
29 (3) The county board is not required to provide the adjunct teacher retirement benefits,
30 health insurance, nor any other type of employment benefit unless both the county board and the
31 adjunct teacher agree to those benefits;
32 (4) The county board shall enter into a contract with the adjunct teacher that specifies the
33 length of time for the contract; which days the adjunct teacher is to teach; the amount of time the
34 teacher is to teach on those days; the rate of compensation; whether any retirement, health
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35 insurance, or any other type of benefit will be provided and if so exactly what those benefits will
36 be; and any other provisions the county board and adjunct teacher agree to;
37 (5) The individual who holds the adjunct teaching permit may teach in any content area,
38 including a career and technical education content area, in which the individual is allowed to teach
39 based on the individual’s experience described in subsection (b) of this section;
40 (6) The individual must be assigned a teacher mentor for support in pedagogy; and
41 (7) The individual shall complete the harassment, intimidation, and bullying training, and
42 preventing child sexual abuse training required by state board policy 4373, and education on the
43 warning signs and resources to assist in suicide prevention pursuant to §18-2-40 of this code
44 within the first 90 days of employment.
45 (e) An adjunct teacher may not provide special education instruction.
46 (f) Each county board that employs an adjunct teacher with an adjunct teacher permit
47 issued pursuant to this section shall report to the West Virginia Department of Education the
48 following information:
49 (1) The number of adjunct teachers who hold a permit issued under this section that the
50 county board has hired each school year, disaggregated by the grade level and subject area
51 taught by the adjunct teacher; and
52 (2) The following information for each adjunct teacher described in subdivision (1) of this
53 subsection:
54 (A) The name of the adjunct teacher;
55 (B) The subject matter the adjunct teacher is permitted to teach;
56 (C) A description of the adjunct teacher’s experience that qualifies him or her under §18A-
57 3-2b(b)(1) of this code;
58 (D) The compensation paid to the adjunct teacher during the school year;
59 (E) The number of previous adjunct teaching employment agreements the adjunct teacher
60 has entered into with the county board.
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61 (g) A county board shall post a vacant adjunct teacher position pursuant to §18A-4-7a(q)
62 of this code.
63 (h) A county board may notify parents of students enrolled in the school of a vacant adjunct
64 teacher position.
65 (i) The county board shall announce any vacant adjunct teacher positions at its meetings.
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Enr SB 155
The Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates hereby
certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
...............................................................
Clerk of the Senate
...............................................................
Clerk of the House of Delegates
Originated in the Senate.
In effect 90 days from passage.
...............................................................
President of the Senate
...............................................................
Speaker of the House of Delegates
__________
The within is ................................................ this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.
.............................................................
Governor
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