West Virginia.

The article focuses on West Virginia’s fiscal year 2026 education funding and policy landscape, examining trends in P–12 and higher education finance and legislation. It highlights the state’s investment in the Hope Scholarship, an education savings account allowing families to use public school funds for private or homeschooling expenses, and notes no changes to the existing funding formulas for public and higher education. Recent legislation includes Senate Bill 474, which eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in state agencies and schools, and Senate Bill 199, which establishes disciplinary procedures for disruptive students in early elementary grades. Challenges in higher education include enrollment concerns, funding gaps, and workforce alignment, while efforts to improve K–12 teacher recruitment involve proposed pay reforms. West Virginia allocates 41% of its state budget to public education and 9% to higher education, with ongoing debates about the impact of school choice on public school funding.