Bill > HB4037

This bill mandates the unification of West Virginia's 55 county school districts into a maximum of 27 regional or area school districts by July 1, 2029, acknowledging challenges like accessibility, funding, population, and topography that affect these districts. To facilitate this, the State Board of Education, with input from a newly established School District Unification Committee, must study the implications of this consolidation and develop proposed legislation by October 31, 2026, for consideration by the Legislature. The School District Unification Committee, composed of 11 members representing various educational interests and chaired by the State Superintendent of Schools, will assist the State Board in this process, and the State Board is authorized to create interim rules to manage the transition smoothly.