Governor Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill 5438 on April 20 at Gihon Elementary in Parkersburg, enacting an education reform that shifts school funding toward literacy and classroom technology.
The new law aims to improve how West Virginia students learn to read and use digital tools. Governor Morrisey said, “We aren’t just talking about improving education, we are funding its transformation. 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.”
House Bill 5438 will fund statewide implementation of LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), a program based on the Science of Reading that helps teachers understand how students process language. The legislation also increases investment in instructional technology to prepare students for jobs in a modern economy.
Justice champions youth programs and constituent engagement through his office, according to the official website. Justice served as governor of West Virginia, focusing on economic growth, according to the official website. Justice was elected as a U.S. senator from West Virginia, according to the official website.
Justice obtained an undergraduate degree and an MBA from Marshall University, according to the official website. Justice, a lifelong resident of West Virginia, drew on his state experiences in his senatorial role, according to the official website. Justice captained the golf team at Marshall University, according to the official website.
The reforms outlined by House Bill 5438 reflect ongoing efforts within West Virginia’s leadership circles—such as those championed by Senator Jim Justice—to focus resources toward student development and workforce readiness.