WV School Leaders Unveil New School Funding Formula with Hope Legislature Will Consider It
The proposal would shift funding to student needs and could cost $190 million for special education changes, officials said.
- On Wednesday, the West Virginia Department of Education unveiled draft legislation to overhaul the Public School Support Program, replacing the decades-old enrollment-based formula with a needs-based tiered model across 55 county school systems.
- Legislators have debated reforming the decades-old formula for years as declining enrollment—dropping by more than 50,000 students in the last 10 years—has caused widespread funding shortfalls, leading to school closures and consolidations across West Virginia.
- The proposal introduces weighted funding categories for special education, poverty, and English learners, with special education changes alone estimated to cost $190 million, while treating public charter schools as distinct local education agencies.
- State board members voted 7-1 on Wednesday to formally agree with the ACLU-WV that the current funding system is constitutionally inadequate, though board member James Paul objected to conceding the board had failed its duty.
- House Education Committee Chairman Joe Statler is reviewing the bill with staff, with further discussions expected next month at the State Capitol Building ahead of potential consideration during the 2027 Legislative Session.
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The Logan Banner
WV school leaders unveil new school funding formula with hope Legislature will consider it
As more schools across West Virginia say they’ll close their doors, the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt unveiled a robust school funding formula overhaul that they hope lawmakers will consider.
WV Dept. of Ed. proposes school funding solution, board confirms position in ongoing lawsuit
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — After statewide school closures and months of conversation surrounding the state's school aid formula, the West Virginia Department of Education is proposing a potential solution. The proposal would essentially restructure the entire system. As detailed in a summary, the proposal raises the low-enrollment threshold to 2,000, instead of 1,400. The school [...]
W.Va. education officials unveil major overhaul of $2B school funding formula
CHARLESTON – For the last several years, lawmakers have talked about reforming West Virginia’s formula for sending tax dollars to the state’s 55 county school systems. Now, the Department of Education believes it has a fix. During Wednesday’s meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education, department officials unveiled draft legislation to reform the Public […]
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