The proposed bill aims to establish a five-year moratorium on public school closings and consolidations in West Virginia, starting from July 1, 2026. It emphasizes the need for a flexible approach to public school planning, considering the diverse demographic and socio-economic conditions of communities. The bill mandates the West Virginia Department of Education to allocate emergency funds to ensure the operation of all existing schools during this period and allows for necessary waivers to existing policies upon request from local school improvement councils.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific actions that the Board of Education must undertake during the moratorium, including conducting a statewide inventory of school proximity and travel distances, implementing a rating system for schools, and commissioning studies on the effects 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. If the mandated actions are not completed by the end of the moratorium, it will continue indefinitely until all actions are fulfilled.

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