This bill aims to amend the school aid formula in West Virginia by establishing a minimum net enrollment of 1,200 students for each county. The definition of "net enrollment" is updated to include various categories of students, such as those in special education, kindergarten, and grades one to twelve, as well as adults in vocational programs and students in early childhood education programs. Additionally, the bill specifies that for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond, no county's net enrollment can be set below 1,200, with certain provisions to prevent penalties for counties that may not meet the required ratios of professional instructional personnel due to this adjustment.

The bill also includes several provisions to ensure that the new minimum enrollment does not adversely affect funding calculations. For instance, it allows for adjustments in net enrollment calculations when counties send students to jointly established schools in other counties. Furthermore, the bill mandates a review by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability every three interim periods to assess whether the provisions adequately address the needs of counties with low enrollment and sparse population density. Overall, the bill seeks to modernize the funding framework for public schools in West Virginia while ensuring equitable support for all counties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-9A-2