The proposed bill aims to establish a five-year moratorium on school closings and consolidations in West Virginia, starting from July 1, 2025. It emphasizes the need for a flexible approach to public school planning that considers the diverse demographic, social, and cultural contexts of communities. The bill highlights the insufficiency of existing data to inform policies on school consolidation and mandates the West Virginia Department of Education to allocate emergency funds to ensure the operation of all existing schools during this period.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific actions that the Board of Education must undertake while the moratorium is in effect. These include conducting a statewide inventory of school proximity and travel distances, implementing a rating system for schools based on various factors, and commissioning independent studies to assess the impact of school size and travel time on student well-being and academic performance. At the end of the five-year period, the Board is required to report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, with the moratorium extending indefinitely if the mandated actions are not completed.

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