West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey took a significant step toward improving classroom environments by signing a new student discipline bill into law on Tuesday. Joined by a group of enthusiastic fifth-graders at Ripley Elementary School, Morrisey officially enacted Senate Bill 199, which aims to provide teachers with the tools and support needed to manage disruptive behavior and maintain productive learning spaces.
The legislation, championed by Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Amy Grady, received overwhelming bipartisan support, passing the Senate 33-0 and the House of Delegates 94-3. Governor Morrisey praised the bill as a practical solution to concerns raised by educators across the state.
“One of the most important things for a child to succeed in school is having a quality teacher in the classroom,” Morrisey said. “But we also need to ensure that teachers aren’t being held back by behavior issues that interfere with learning.”
The new law creates a structured, multi-step process for handling violent, threatening, or disruptive student behavior—particularly in grades kindergarten through sixth. The goal is to intervene early and effectively, focusing on support and understanding rather than punishment alone.
Structured Support for Students and Teachers
Under SB 199, any elementary school student whose behavior is deemed violent or intimidating will be referred to a qualified professional—such as a school counselor, psychologist, or behavioral specialist—for an assessment. A two-week behavioral plan will be created to address the root causes of the conduct.
If the student does not improve, the plan is revised and extended for another two weeks. Continued failure to comply may result in placement into a behavioral intervention program. To support this effort, the bill encourages partnerships between schools and licensed behavioral health agencies.
The legislation also allows counties to establish or expand alternative learning centers to serve students with ongoing behavior issues. These centers can even be shared between counties, maximizing resources while ensuring that students receive targeted attention.
For counties lacking such centers, SB 199 outlines clear disciplinary procedures. Teachers who determine a student’s behavior to be violent or dangerous can remove that student from the classroom for the rest of the day. The law requires parental notification and may include a three-day suspension, ensuring swift accountability.
Reinforcing Middle and High School Discipline
SB 199 also updates a 2023 law related to student discipline in middle and high schools. A student who is removed from class three times within a month must receive an in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, or be placed in an alternative learning center.
Repeated disruptive behavior can lead to expulsion, though the bill requires due process. Teachers and principals are now permitted to attend expulsion hearings and can appeal decisions to the county superintendent if disagreements arise.
Bipartisan Collaboration and Legislative Persistence
State Senator Amy Grady, R-Mason, a classroom teacher herself, led the charge to get the bill passed. She expressed pride in how this year’s version improved from a similar proposal that failed in the previous legislative session due to last-minute disagreements.
“It is very rewarding today, especially knowing how different the bill came out than last year and how much better it is,” Grady said. “I really think it’s a great piece of legislation that’s going to help our teachers, students, and schools overall.”
Grady received praise from fellow lawmakers, including State Senator Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, who acknowledged her persistence and commitment to students.
“She’s been working on this for two years,” Tarr said. “Having a passionate teacher like Senator Grady in the Senate is a major asset for education in our state.”
A New Direction for West Virginia Education
State Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt also commended lawmakers for their dedication to improving education policy.
“We worked really hard all through last session and into this session to make sure we could get something that’s going to be good for our schools, kids, and teachers,” Blatt said. “I think we now have something in place that’s really going to support educators and make a real difference.”
Governor Morrisey emphasized that improving education remains a top priority in his administration.
“We know that West Virginia ranks near the bottom nationally in key metrics like educational attainment, teacher pay, and literacy,” he said. “Reversing that trend is a major goal for my administration, and this bill is a meaningful step in that direction.”
With SB 199 now law, schools across West Virginia have a new framework to better handle challenging behavior and ensure that teachers and students can thrive in a safe and supportive classroom environment.
