This bill aims to unify the 55 county school districts in West Virginia into no more than 27 regional or area school districts by July 1, 2029. It establishes findings that highlight the shared challenges faced by these districts, such as accessibility, funding, population, and topography. To facilitate this unification, the State Board of Education is required to study the implications of such changes and provide recommendations to the Legislature by October 31, 2026. The bill also creates a School District Unification Committee, which will assist the State Board in this process and is tasked with developing proposed legislation for the 2027 Regular Session.

The committee will consist of 11 members, including ex officio members such as the State Superintendent of Schools and chairs of the education committees from both legislative chambers. The Governor will appoint additional members representing various educational interests, including county superintendents and teachers. The committee is expected to meet monthly from August to October 2026 and will help prepare the necessary information for the unification process. Furthermore, the State Board of Education is authorized to submit rules for legislative approval to establish interim policies and procedures to ensure an orderly transition during the unification process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-5i