The bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by providing additional support to "extremely remote schools," defined as schools located at least 20 miles from any existing public or private school and serving a minimum of 20 students. The legislation introduces a new section, 18-9A-13, which stipulates that county boards receiving state aid for these schools cannot close them during the fiscal year they accept the aid. Additionally, the bill requires county boards to submit documentation to the State Superintendent to verify the school's status as extremely remote and mandates annual reporting on the use and impact of the funds received.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the purpose of the additional aid, which includes covering ongoing operational costs, preparing for extreme weather, and funding professional development tailored to rural teaching environments. It also allows extremely remote schools to request waivers from certain requirements, including those related to school personnel. The amendments to the definitions in 18-9A-2 include a new provision that counts each student in an extremely remote school as 2.5 students for funding purposes, thereby enhancing the financial support for these schools.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-9A-2, 18-9A-13
Committee Substitute: 18-9A-2, 18-9A-13