KINGWOOD, W.Va. — As West Virginia prepares to implement the Third Grade Success Act’s retention clause in 2026, educators across North Central West Virginia say they have been working for years to strengthen early literacy instruction and are confident most students will advance on time.

The Third Grade Success Act, signed into law by former Gov. Jim Justice in 2023, requires schools to ensure students are reading on grade level and are proficient in basic math by the end of third grade. Beginning in 2026, students who do not meet state literacy standards may be retained, with interventions required to help them catch up.

Schools say preparations are well underway

In Harrison County, Superintendent Dora Stutler said the district has put strong literacy supports in place over the past t

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