West Virginia
State Information
The purpose of this document is to capture state-by-state information of policy and guidelines related to the science of reading / evidence-based reading instruction to be presented on The Reading League Compass, a website of reliable and reputable guidance and resources for targeted stakeholder groups.
Updated 2025
Local control?
Yes
Has your state passed legislation and/or non-legislated rule changes related to the SoR?
Yes.
West Virginia Code | §18-2e-10
HB 3035 18-2E-10. Third Grade Success Act; multi-tiered system of support for early literacy and numeracy in kindergarten through grade three; pre-service and in-service teacher training; notice to parent or guardian; third grade retention policy with exceptions; interventions continuing in fourth grade for students below proficiency.
Ready, Read, Write, West Virginia | West Virginia Department of Education
The Ready, Read, Write, West Virginia initiative is a program created by the West Virginia Department of Education that is grounded in the Third Grade Success Act and is aimed at increasing literacy proficiency among students. It is based on research that demonstrates effective reading instruction that can help students become proficient readers and writers. The initiative focuses on the Science of Reading, which emphasizes five key areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. It aims to improve literacy skills for all students, particularly in response to low reading scores in the state
Does your state have an approved curriculum list?
While the WVDE does not provide an approved curriculum list, it collaborates with West Virginia educators to establish criteria for curriculum adoption.
Teachers serve on state instructional resource review committees, and registered vendors submit materials for review. The WV Board of Education shares a list of qualified vendors with county boards, which then conduct their own reviews. The WVDE hosts instructional resource caravans to support this process, and each county board submits an annual report of locally approved instructional resources to the WV Board of Education.
Please describe any other instructional-materials work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable
The West Virginia Department of Education has developed an online repository of reading lessons and reading activities for phonemic awareness and phonics that are aligned to the Science of Reading and West Virginia College and Career Readiness Standards. These instructional resources were created by West Virginia Literacy Specialists and are available for free to all West Virginia teachers.
The Science of Reading Classroom Look Fors document was designed to support school leaders as they implement the Science of Reading (SOR) in kindergarten through third grade classrooms. While this document is not an exhaustive list of instructional practices and supports, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) used various SOR research-based resources and the West Virginia Tiered System of Support (WVTSS) to create this tool.
Does your state mandate or provide guidance on early screening?
Yes.
Third Grade Success Act | West Virginia Department of Education
West Virginia HB 3035, 18-2E-10, Third Grade Success Act establishes an approved list of screeners/benchmarks in English Language Arts, dyslexia, and mathematics for K-3 students which must be given in the first 30 days of the school year then repeated at mid-year and end-of-year.
Please describe any other assessment work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable
Academic Screening Tools Chart
The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) utilizes minimum criteria for the selection of valid and reliable universal screening tools guided by the National Center on Intensive Interventions at American Institutes for Research Screening Tools Chart Rating System.
Does your state have policy or guidance related to MTSS that incorporates information on the science of reading and/or evidence-based literacy practices?
Yes.
Third Grade Success Act | West Virginia Department of Education
West Virginia HB 3035, 18-2E-10, Third Grade Success Act establishes a multi-tiered system of support that requires the development of individualized reading improvement plans for students identified as having a deficiency in grades K-3.
West Virginia Board of Education Policy 2512 establishes standards to support students reaching grade-level proficiency in reading and mathematics by the end of grade three. Using a multi-tiered system of support for early literacy in kindergarten through grade three, this approach shall be coordinated by the school student assistance team (SAT) focusing on the early learning years. Schools and engaged communities are mobilized to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and assist families in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities to serve as full partners in the success of their children.
Does your state have policy or guidance related to instruction and/or professional development.
Yes.
West Virginia Board of Education Policy 2512
The West Virginia Board of Education has the responsibility of generating policy including rules to effectuate the provisions of WV Code 18-2E-10 that include providing assistance to county boards with the training and implementation of the science of reading for all kindergarten through grade three educators, early childhood classroom assistant teachers (ECCATs), aides, paraprofessionals, and/or interventionists.
Lexia® LETRS® | West Virginia Department of Education
To meet the Science of Reading requirements under the Third Grade Success Act, we are offering a no-cost sustained, job-embedded professional development statewide for K–5 educators and administrators – funded by the West Virginia Legislature. Lexia® LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) supports evidence-based reading instruction, improves grade-level proficiency, and helps close achievement gaps. Through this course of study, educators gain the knowledge and skills to deliver explicit, evidence-based instruction that drives lasting improvements in literacy.
Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading?
Yes.
HB3035-Third-Grade-Success-Act-v1.pdf
Science of Reading Components • Codifies the definition of “Science of Reading” as evidenced-based reading instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension plus writing. • Requires assistance be provided to county boards for training and implementation for all K-3 teachers, ECCATs, paraprofessionals, aides, and interventionist in the Science of Reading. • Requires county boards to adopt high-quality instructional materials aligned to the science of reading and content standards
What Is the Science of Reading? | West Virginia Department of Education
All West Virginia schools will be implementing instruction that ensures all these pillars related to the Science of Reading are taught to students. Because decades of research exists explaining how and why these topics should be taught, our schools can take the guesswork out of how to teach the complicated skill of reading to all students. Scientific, research-based instruction will make it easier for all West Virginia children to learn to read proficiently. It will open doors for students who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to become proficient readers, writers, and overall successful citizens in our society of constant communication.
Has your state reviewed standards for alignment to the science of reading?
Yes.
WVDE INVEST Updated Secondary Pillars of Literacy in the ELA Classroom 2024
This professional learning session is designed to assist educators in identifying the Secondary Pillars of Literacy while working with the WV College and Career Readiness Standards (WVCCRS) to ensure instructional practices are aligned to meet the intended rigor of the standards. Intentional focus when planning your instruction, in addition to using formative assessment to guide future instruction, will lead to proficiency for both educators and students.
Please describe any other standards work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable
K-12 ELA WVCCRS Progressions Update May 2024 (5).pdf
This document provides a progression of ELA standards from kindergarten to Grade 12. It is specific to ELA domains, clusters and standards.
Does your state have guidance or resources for families related to the science of reading?
Yes.
Ready, Read, Write, West Virginia | West Virginia Department of Education, Resources | West Virginia Department of Education
Ready, Read, Write relies on the collective support from educators, families, businesses, agency partners and others to join in the effort to increase reading and proficiency among all children. WVDE resources provide important guidance on how all stakeholders can participate in the statewide initiative.
Do you have policy or guidance regarding how to leverage evidence-based practices to support secondary students?
Yes.
Secondary SOR Classroom Look ForsFINAL 2025.pdf
The Science of Reading Secondary Classroom Look Fors document was designed to support school leaders as they implement the Science of Reading (SOR) in secondary classrooms. While this document is not an exhaustive list of instructional practices and supports, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) used various SOR research-based resources, the West Virginia Tiered System of Support (WVTSS), and the West Virginia College -and Career- Readiness Standards (WVCCRS) to create this tool.
WVDE INVEST Updated Secondary Pillars of Literacy in the ELA Classroom 2024.pdf
This professional learning session is designed to assist educators in identifying the Secondary Pillars of Literacy.
Do you have policy or guidance regarding how to leverage evidence-based practices to support Multilingual Learners?
Yes.
West Virginia Code | §18-2e-10
(l) Effective for the school year beginning July 1, 2026, a public school student or public charter school student who generally demonstrates a minimal understanding of, and ability to, apply grade level English language arts or mathematics knowledge, skills and abilities, or both, as indicated on the West Virginia General Summative Assessment relative to the West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards at the end of third grade, shall upon the recommendation of the classroom teacher and the student assistance team, be retained in the third grade for the ensuing school year subject to the following exceptions:
(1) A student with disabilities whose Individualized Education Plan indicates participation in the statewide alternate summative assessment.
(2) A student identified as an English language learner who has had less than three years instruction in English as a second language.
Does your state have licensure or program approval criteria to ensure Educator Preparation Programs are aligned to the science of reading?
Yes.
West Virginia Code | §18-2e-10
(11) Ensuring the employment of qualified teachers and service personnel in accordance with §18-5-39 and §18A-4-7c of this code to provide instruction to students enrolled in early literacy and numeracy support programs including, but not limited to, ensuring that educator preparation programs prepare candidates seeking licensure for elementary education with training and instruction to: (A) Include instruction in state-adopted grade-level content standards, foundational reading and mathematics skills, and how to implement reading instruction using high-quality instructional materials(B) Provide effective instruction and intervention for students with reading and math deficiencies, including students with characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia(C) Understand and use student data to make instructional decisions
WVBE Policy 5100 Approval of Educator Preparation Programs
6.6.d. Reading Content in Teacher Preparation. 6.6.d.1. Each elementary education EPP must contain a minimum of nine credit hours of reading, which includes a focus on the five essential components of reading (i.e., phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension), methods for teaching writing to reinforce reading and language acquisition, as well as how to effectively use data to assess students’ reading ability, use that assessment information for reteaching, remediation, and/or enrichment as appropriate for individual students, and how to identify and correct reading difficulties.
Do you have a “contact us” website that we can share publicly on TRL Compass?
Ready, Read, Write, West Virginia | West Virginia Department of Education
This link will take you to the official home page of the WVDE. It contains a section at the bottom with contact information.
Please describe and link to any other work you would like to share that relates to the science of reading.
Engaging Families WV | West Virginia Department of Education
The Engaging Families WV initiative is a collaborative effort by the West Virginia Department of Education, selected districts, and the
West Virginia Family Engagement Center to enhance family engagement in education. This program aims to support families in building early learning skills in young children through everyday activities.
Interactive State Map
Use the interactive state map to find descriptions of state-level policy adoption, guidance, and practices related to the science of reading. State policy may include legislation incorporating training or practices related to the science of reading or state education agency guidance regarding policy, professional development, curricula, instruction, or assessment.
Filter by specific topic area(s) to find state-specific work:
The Reading League expresses gratitude to our collaborators and associates within the state education agencies for sharing their state-specific data. This data will undergo semi-annual updates, contingent upon the availability and resources of the respective state agencies. For any inquiries, clarifications, or updates, please reach out to compass@thereadingleague.org.
