To create an initiative to provide minorities and males with an incentive to join the public education field
HB5248 creates a statewide and county-level initiative to encourage underrepresented groups to enter the teaching profession in West Virginia. The bill’s stated purpose is to address the state’s teacher shortage by increasing awareness of teacher preparation programs and by targeting recruitment efforts toward minorities, males, and people from rural, isolated, or impoverished areas. Both the West Virginia State Board of Education and county boards of education would be required to develop outreach materials and make information available on their websites, including information about the new scholarship program.
The bill also establishes a new scholarship program in Chapter 18C for students in these underrepresented groups who are enrolled in programs leading directly to education certification. It creates a special treasury fund called the Scholarship Fund for Underrepresented Groups as Educators and directs the Legislature to appropriate $10 million per year from general revenue to support the program. Scholarships are to be divided equally among male applicants, minority applicants, and applicants from rural, isolated, or impoverished areas, with preference given to West Virginia residents.
To receive and keep the scholarship, recipients must meet eligibility and renewal requirements, remain in good academic standing, and ultimately work in an education-related field in West Virginia for at least one year for each year the scholarship was received. If a recipient does not satisfy the service obligation, the bill requires repayment of the scholarship amount plus interest and possible collection fees, subject to prorated credit for any work already completed. The bill also allows for deferrals, exemptions for military service, and repayment forgiveness in cases of death or permanent total disability.
The bill would amend the state education code by adding new sections in Chapters 18 and 18C, creating new duties for state and county education boards and a new scholarship fund administered through higher education governance structures. Its practical effect would be to expand recruitment and financial support for prospective teachers from groups the bill identifies as underrepresented, while also imposing rulemaking responsibilities on higher education governing boards to set selection, compliance, appeal, and repayment procedures.
Because there is no committee transcript or recorded vote history provided, the overall sentiment can only be inferred from the bill text and caption. The measure appears broadly supportive of teacher recruitment and diversity in education, with a policy emphasis on addressing shortages and expanding opportunity. No specific opposition or controversy is documented in the available materials, but the bill’s classification of eligible groups and the $10 million annual appropriation could be points of debate if the measure were considered further.
HB5248 would add new provisions to West Virginia’s education code requiring state and county education boards to promote teacher preparation programs for specified underrepresented groups and would create a new scholarship fund and program in Chapter 18C. It would also require higher education governing boards to adopt rules governing scholarship administration, eligibility, renewal, repayment, and appeals, and would appropriate $10 million annually from general revenue to support the program.
No committee discussion or vote record is provided, so there is no documented legislative debate to gauge. Based on the bill text, the measure is framed as a workforce and opportunity initiative intended to address teacher shortages and broaden participation in public education, suggesting generally favorable policy intent. The available materials do not show recorded opposition, amendments, or divided votes.
The main potential points of contention are the bill’s targeted eligibility categories, especially the explicit focus on minorities, males, and people from rural, isolated, or impoverished areas, and the requirement that scholarship recipients work in West Virginia after graduation or repay the award with interest. The proposed $10 million annual general revenue appropriation could also draw scrutiny because it creates a recurring fiscal commitment. No specific objections from legislators, committees, or stakeholders are included in the provided record.