HB5048: Virtual Learning Access for Foster Children
Summary
West Virginia Governor signed HB5048 into law on April 1, 2026. The bill requires school districts to continue providing virtual learning instruction to foster children during temporary placement in residential facilities. The legislation passed unanimously in both chambers (House 96-0, Senate 34-0) after committee amendments.
What changed
HB5048 enacts a new mandate requiring West Virginia school districts to continue providing virtual learning instruction to foster children placed in temporary residential facilities. The bill passed unanimously after amendments in both chambers and was signed by the Governor on April 1, 2026.\n\nAffected parties include public school districts, county boards of education, and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. Schools must now ensure foster children can maintain educational continuity during placement transitions by providing access to virtual instruction. Noncompliance could result in challenges under state education law.
What to do next
- School districts should prepare to deliver virtual instruction to foster children during residential placements
- Social services agencies should coordinate with local schools on educational continuity plans
- Monitor for WV Department of Education guidance on HB5048 implementation
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / West Virginia / HB5048 Signed by Governor HB5048 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-03-14
To ensure virtual instruction for foster students while in temporary placement facilities.
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that foster children awaiting residential placement shall continue to receive education through virtual learning.
Bill Details
State West Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source www.wvlegislature.gov/BillStatus/Billshi...
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Sponsors
Erica Moore (Rep - R) Laura Kimble (Rep - R) David Cannon (Rep - R) Elias Coop-Gonzalez (Rep - R) Geno Chiarelli (Rep - R) Ryan Browning (Rep - R) Jonathan Kyle (Rep - R) Margitta Mazzocchi (Rep - R) Sarah Drennan (Rep - R) Matthew Rohrbach (Rep - R) Lori Dittman (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-01 H Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 2026-03-14 H Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - House Journal 2026-03-14 S Approved by Governor 4/1/2026 - Senate Journal 2026-03-25 H To Governor 3/25/2026 2026-03-14 S To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal 2026-03-14 S House Message received 2026-03-14 H Completed legislative action 2026-03-14 H Communicated to Senate 2026-03-14 H House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 673) 2026-03-14 H House received Senate message 2026-03-13 S Senate requests House to concur 2026-03-13 S Passed Senate (Roll No. 554) 2026-03-13 S Read 3rd time 2026-03-13 S On 3rd reading 2026-03-12 S Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote) 2026-03-12 S Read 2nd time 2026-03-12 S On 2nd reading 2026-03-11 S Read 1st time 2026-03-11 S Immediate consideration 2026-03-11 S Reported do pass, with amendment 2026-03-04 S To School Choice 2026-03-04 S To School Choice 2026-03-04 S Introduced in Senate 2026-03-02 H Communicated to Senate 2026-03-02 H Passed House (Roll No. 239) 2026-03-02 H Read 3rd time 2026-03-02 H On 3rd reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-27 H Amendment withdrawn (Voice vote) 2026-02-27 H Amendment reported by the Clerk 2026-02-27 H Read 2nd time 2026-02-27 H On 2nd reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-26 H Read 1st time 2026-02-26 H On 1st reading, Special Calendar 2026-02-25 H Do pass 2026-02-23 H Markup Discussion 2026-02-02 H To House Education 2026-02-02 H Introduced in House 2026-02-02 H To Education 2026-02-02 H Filed for introduction
Votes
2026-03-02 Passed House (Roll No. 239) Yea: 96 Nay: 0 2026-03-13 Passed Senate (Roll No. 554) Yea: 34 Nay: 0 2026-03-14 House concurred in Senate amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 673) Yea: 96 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-02-02 H Education 2026-03-04 S School Choice
Amendments
2026-02-27 hb5048 hfa crouse 2-27 _1 2026-03-06 hb5048 sfat rucker _1 3-6 2026-03-06 hb5048 s sch am _1 3-6 2026-03-06 hb5048 s sch am _1 3-6 adopted Adopted
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Enrolled
Subjects
Education (K12) Human Services Juveniles Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
Named provisions
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