This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study how state and local funds are spent by county school boards under the Public School Support Program. The study will examine spending patterns, enrollment changes, and staffing costs to determine if a new School Finance Transparency Commission is needed to improve financial reporting and public understanding of education funding. The committee must submit its findings and recommendations to state leaders by December 31, 2026, with any proposed legislation to be reported to the 2027 legislative session. This measure does not change current funding laws but instead initiates a review process to inform potential future policy adjustments.
This bill requires West Virginia county school boards to obtain voter approval before closing or consolidating schools, except when a prior construction bond issue already included those schools in its scope. It mandates a public hearing process, including written impact statements detailing effects on student transportation, school finances, enrollment capacity, and staff, and requires the board to consider input from school improvement councils. The countywide referendum must be held during a regular election or special election, and the board cannot proceed unless a majority of voters approve the closure or consolidation. This adds a direct voter check on significant school restructuring decisions.
HB 5279 redirects $12.66 million in unspent lottery surplus funds to the Hope Scholarship Program for the 2026 fiscal year. This supplemental appropriation directly affects students and families using the Hope Scholarship Program by providing additional funding for educational expenses. The bill uses existing unappropriated lottery revenue (not new taxes) to support the program, as specified in the Governor’s budget document. It does not create new policy or eligibility rules but allocates previously identified surplus funds to an existing scholarship program.
HB 5192 clarifies that the School Access Safety Fund's per-pupil funding calculation must use the higher of either the last three-year average enrollment or the current year's enrollment. This change ensures funding levels remain stable during temporary enrollment declines, preventing reductions in allocated funds. County school boards receiving these safety-related funds will use this method to determine their per-pupil allocation. The bill specifically amends existing law for the School Access Safety Fund, which supports school safety projects.
SB 871 allocates $12.66 million from West Virginia's Excess Lottery Fund to the Hope Scholarship Program for fiscal year 2026. This supplemental appropriation adds a new funding line (Fund 3517) to the State Board of Education's budget, directing unappropriated lottery surplus funds toward scholarship payments. The bill does not change program eligibility, rules, or structure - it only provides additional funding for existing scholarship disbursements. It is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy.
HB 5126 clarifies that West Virginia's Lottery Education Fund and Excess Lottery Fund can be directly used to support early childhood education programs for 4-year-olds across the state. The bill requires county school boards to provide these programs, mandating at least 48,000 minutes of instruction annually (or 1,500 minutes weekly) for eligible children. It explicitly authorizes the use of lottery funds for this purpose, removing ambiguity in current funding rules. This policy change directly affects county education programs and ensures dedicated state funding for early childhood education initiatives.
HB 5637 adds 50% weighted funding to West Virginia's school aid formula for students with unique learning needs, including students with disabilities and English language learners. This means schools serving these students will receive additional state funding based on counting each such student as 1.5 full-time students in enrollment calculations. The bill requires county school boards to apply to the state superintendent for this supplemental funding, which is distributed based on student proficiency levels and county capacity. It directly affects public schools and students with disabilities or limited English proficiency by increasing their funding allocation.
SB 1080 requires West Virginia to redirect any reduction in state education funding from the previous fiscal year to support specific school districts. It targets the 10 lowest-enrollment county school districts with maximum local tax levies (excess levies), plus extremely remote schools within those districts. Funding is distributed proportionally based on kindergarten through fifth-grade student enrollment, with students counted twice in certain cases to ensure adequate support. This policy change ensures that state aid cuts directly benefit the most vulnerable school districts rather than reducing overall funding.
HB 5453 modifies West Virginia's school funding formula, shifting to a block grant of $6,100 per student for county school districts starting in 2029-2030 (with a minimum 1,200-student threshold per county), while public charter schools receive $8,600 per student. It creates a "Supplemental School Aid Fund" to provide additional per-pupil funding for Tier II ($3,050) and Tier III special needs students beginning in 2029-2030. School districts may also request supplemental funding for specific needs like transportation, vocational centers, or pilot programs through this fund. The bill requires annual oversight reports by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and defines "maladministration" as financial mismanagement that could trigger funding restrictions.
SB 988 requires West Virginia county school boards to submit annual staffing plans by May 1, detailing all covered employees (including teachers and support staff) by category, justification, and budget impact. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will then issue annual staffing recommendations and maximum funded allowances by April 1, based on enrollment, special education needs, and other objective criteria. County boards can request exceptions to these limits by submitting a written justification and funding plan, but must receive WVDE approval to hire above recommended levels. If a county exceeds the limit without approval, WVDE can order corrective actions like eliminating unfunded positions or suspending hiring until compliance is restored.
