The proposed bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing the Remote Schools Support Act, which focuses on providing additional support to "extremely remote schools." The bill defines an extremely remote school as one that is located at least 20 travel miles from any existing public, charter, or private school, serves a minimum of 20 students, and is situated within the same county. The bill outlines specific criteria for these schools and includes examples of existing extremely remote schools. Additionally, it modifies the definition of "net enrollment" to count students in extremely remote schools as 2.5 students for funding purposes.

To support these extremely remote schools, the bill mandates that county boards receive additional state aid to cover ongoing operational costs, prepare for extreme weather, and fund professional development tailored to rural teaching environments. It prohibits county boards from closing these schools and requires them to submit documentation to the State Superintendent to verify the school's status. Furthermore, counties receiving additional funding must report annually on the use of these funds and their impact on student safety and education quality. The bill also allows extremely remote schools to request waivers from certain requirements, enhancing their operational flexibility.

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