Require adoption awareness material be made available in high school counseling offices
Summary
House Bill 2138 would add a new section to West Virginia education law requiring public schools to make adoption awareness materials available to students in grades 9 through 12, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The materials would be available from the West Virginia Department of Human Services and could be provided through the school or a school counselor, but must be given upon request by any student. The bill also directs the State Board of Education to develop written standards and information for the materials.
The required content would cover the types of adoption available, the difference between foster care adoption and private adoption, public and private resources and agencies that assist with adoption, resources available for pregnant students and parents, and a description of child and human development. If the information is provided in written form to a student, the school must also provide it to the parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis for a pregnant student.
Impact
The bill would create a new education requirement in West Virginia law by adding §18-2-9b to the state code and placing responsibilities on public schools and the State Board of Education. It would not mandate universal distribution to all students, but it would require schools to have adoption awareness materials available and to provide them upon request, while also ensuring parental or guardian notice for pregnant students when written materials are shared. The measure would affect public schools, school counselors, the State Board of Education, and students in grades 9-12, especially pregnant students and those seeking information about adoption or related support services.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as informational and supportive rather than punitive or controversial in structure. The caption and purpose statement suggest a focus on making adoption-related information accessible in high school counseling offices and to students who request it. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented public debate in the supplied materials, but the bill’s language suggests an intent to promote awareness of adoption options and available resources.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely to involve whether schools should be required to provide adoption-related materials at all, how prominently those materials should be made available, and whether the content could be viewed as encouraging adoption over other pregnancy-related options. Another possible issue is the parental notification requirement for pregnant students when written materials are provided, which could raise privacy concerns for some students and families. The bill also leaves room for the State Board of Education to define standards, which could become a point of debate over the scope and tone of the information presented.
Supplementing and amending appropriations to the Higher Education Policy Commission, Higher Education Policy Commission – Administration – Control Account