West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia SB1020: Allowing up to five educational leave days within definition of "excused absence"
Status: Passed one chamber, February 26, 2026
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §18-8-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to compulsory school attendance; including up to five educational leave days within the definition of "excused absence"; requiring the child or parent, guardian, or custodian of the child to submit a note from the parent, guardian, or custodian within three days after the child returns to school explaining what the day or days were used for; requiring state board rule defining what qualifies as educational leave; allowing certain school personnel to refuse to count a day as an educational leave day if.
From the engrossed text, February 24, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §18-8-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to compulsory school attendance; including up to five educational leave days within the definition of "excused absence"; requiring the child or parent, guardian, or custodian of the child to submit a note from the parent, guardian, or custodian within three days after the child returns to school explaining what the day or days were used for; requiring state board rule defining what qualifies as educational leave; allowing certain school personnel to refuse to count a day as an educational leave day if the explanation in the note of what the day was used for does not qualify under the state board rule; and excluding student excused absences due to participation in 4-H, FFA, and certain other student organization activities from the 10-day limit that currently applies to that type of excused absence plus excused absences due to county- or school-approved curricular or extra-curricular activities and college visits. ARTICLE 8. COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. §18-8-4. Duties of attendance director and assistant directors; complaints, warrants, and hearings. (a) For the purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (1) "Excused absence" (B) Personal illness or injury of the student accompanied by a timely written excuse from the student's parent, guardian, or (C) Personal illness or injury …