This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by defining "extremely remote school" and establishing provisions for additional state aid to support these schools. An "extremely remote school" is defined as one that is located 20 miles or more from the nearest public, charter, or private school and serves at least 20 students. The bill also introduces the concept of a "reasonable route" for school bus travel, which must meet specific safety standards. Additionally, it stipulates that any county board receiving this extra aid cannot close an extremely remote school during the fiscal year in which they accept the funding.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that county boards must submit documentation to the State Superintendent to verify the status of their extremely remote schools and report annually on the use of the additional funds. The reports will assess the impact of the funding on student safety, education quality, and operational sustainability. The State Superintendent is tasked with compiling these reports and providing an evaluation of the program's effectiveness to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability. The bill also allows extremely remote schools to request waivers from certain requirements, including those related to school personnel.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-9A-2, 18-9A-13