PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – Governor Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill 5438 today at Gihon Elementary, a reform that refocuses school funding on literacy and classroom technology to better prepare West Virginia students for the future.
“We aren’t just talking about improving education, we are funding its transformation,” said Governor Morrisey. “HB 5438 ensures our taxpayer dollars are laser-focused on the two things that matter most: how our children read and how they master the digital world.”
The bill supports statewide implementation of LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), a Science of Reading approach that trains teachers in how the brain processes language. It also strengthens investments in instructional technology to help prepare students for a modern, digital economy.
These reforms align with the Governor’s goal of ensuring every child is reading proficiently by the end of third grade while building the skills needed to compete in today’s workforce.
“We are no longer content with being middle of the pack,” Governor Morrisey said. “We are building a state where our kids don’t have to leave to find opportunity – because we brought the opportunity to them, starting with a book and a keyboard.”
