This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to enhance the school aid formula, particularly by providing additional support for schools under specific circumstances. A key provision allows for a weight of 1.5 for special education enrollment when calculating service personnel funding, aimed at increasing resources for special education aides. The bill also modifies the foundation allowance for service personnel, increasing the number of service personnel per 1,000 students in various density counties. Additionally, it mandates that funds for instructional programs and technology be used according to strategic improvement plans approved by the state board, while ensuring that no county receives less than its total allocation from previous years for teacher and leader induction and professional growth programs.

Moreover, the bill introduces measures to support counties experiencing extraordinary and sustained increases in net enrollment, allowing them to receive additional funding based on their enrollment growth. It specifies that county boards below certain enrollment thresholds will not qualify for this increased funding. The bill also allocates up to $1,000,000 from a total of $15,000,000 to county boards for contracting with organizations that support math and science improvement and assist teachers who are not fully certified. Furthermore, it establishes a grant program by the state board with requirements for applications and criteria for grant awards, ensuring that public charter schools receive direct funding from the Department of Education. Overall, these changes aim to provide robust financial support to schools facing enrollment challenges and enhance educational quality through targeted funding initiatives.

Statutes affected:
Originating in Committee: 18-9A-2, 18-9A-5, 18-9A-10, 18-9A-15