The proposed bill, known as the "West Virginia Rural School Protection Act," aims to establish comprehensive protections for rural public schools in West Virginia. It introduces new standards and procedures for the closure or consolidation of these schools, emphasizing the importance of public participation and careful review before any decisions are made. Key provisions include the requirement for rural school closure impact statements, which must be publicly available 90 days prior to any vote, and a supermajority approval from county boards of education for any proposed closures. Additionally, the bill mandates voter ratification for such actions, ensuring that any closure or consolidation is subject to approval by the local electorate.

The legislation also sets specific limits on student transportation times, with maximum one-way times of 30 minutes for elementary students and 40 minutes for middle and high school students. It restricts the authority to waive these limits and requires the development of mitigation plans for any approved consolidations. Furthermore, the bill creates a rural school preservation funding weight within the state school aid formula to provide additional financial support for protected rural schools, helping to alleviate the financial pressures that may lead to consolidation. The act includes provisions for severability and is set to take effect on July 1 following its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5H-1, 18-5H-2, 18-5H-3, 18-5H-4, 18-5H-5, 18-5H-6, 18-5H-7, 18-5H-8, 18-5H-9, 18-5H-10, 18-5H-11