The proposed bill aims to establish a Community School Support Fund (CSS Fund) within the West Virginia Department of Education to assist schools at risk of consolidation or closure due to declining enrollment and operational challenges. The legislation outlines several findings that highlight the diverse needs of schools in different socioeconomic contexts, emphasizing that smaller schools closer to students' homes are more effective for those from low-income neighborhoods. The bill mandates the State Superintendent of Schools to identify savings within the Department's budget to allocate an annual sum of five million dollars to the CSS Fund.

Additionally, the bill specifies that schools qualifying for Federal Title 1 during the 2023-2024 school year will be eligible for assistance from the fund, which can cover up to 20% of their total operating costs. The application process for funding will be managed by the Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) of the requesting school, and certain compliance requirements regarding professional and service personnel funding will be exempted. The Superintendent is also authorized to use Step 7 funds to support personnel costs and other necessary expenses to maintain the viability of these schools.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5-13f