HB 5369
West Virginia Rural School Protection Act
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- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill, the West Virginia Rural School Protection Act, aims to safeguard rural public schools in the state. It establishes stricter standards and procedures for closing or consolidating these schools, requiring extensive impact statements, supermajority votes from county boards of education, and voter ratification. The bill also includes provisions regarding student transportation times, waiver restrictions, and funding to support rural schools.
Key provisions
- Requires a detailed rural school closure impact statement before any closure decision.
- Requires a two-thirds vote of the county board of education for closure or consolidation.
- Mandates voter ratification through a referendum if a county board approves closure.
- Establishes maximum one-way student transportation time limits for different grade levels.
- Creates a ‘rural school preservation weight’ in the state school aid funding formula.
- Requires a forensic audit in counties considering school closures.
- Requires mitigation plans to address transportation and student support needs during consolidation.
- Establishes a State Board of Education approval process for school closures.
Who is affected
- Rural school districts in West Virginia
- Students attending rural public schools
- County Boards of Education
- West Virginia residents in affected attendance areas
- The State Board of Education
Notable changes
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