Interim Report: LOCEA

August 11, 2026 - 19:14

The Legislative Oversight Committee on Education Accountability convened this afternoon to review several proposed rule changes to Administrative Rule 133, which governs the Higher Education Policy Commission. These revisions come as a direct result of House Bill 5212, passed during the most recent legislative session.

Among the items discussed, the committee focused on the update to WVHEPC Rule 133-07, which covers the WV PROMISE Scholarship Program. The most notable change involves the GPA requirement for scholarship recipients. Under the new rule, the minimum GPA has been adjusted from the previous 3.0 standard to a new threshold, though the committee did not specify the exact figure during the public portion of the meeting.

Committee members raised questions about how the change might impact current and future students, particularly those who rely on the PROMISE Scholarship to cover tuition costs. Officials from the Higher Education Policy Commission were on hand to explain the rationale behind the adjustment, citing alignment with the intent of House Bill 5212 to streamline eligibility criteria and ensure that state funds are directed toward students who meet the updated academic standards.

The committee will continue its review in the coming weeks, with a final vote expected before the rule takes effect. No additional items were on the agenda for this session.