Bill > SB554

This bill establishes an "enrollment stabilizer" mechanism within West Virginia's public school support plan to help county school boards better plan for staffing and services by smoothing out year-to-year fluctuations in student enrollment, which are used to calculate state aid. Specifically, for any given school year, the net enrollment figure used for state aid calculations will be the highest of three options: the actual current year's enrollment, a percentage (up to 98%) of the previous year's enrollment, or a three-year average of enrollment. Additionally, the bill introduces a "rural stability add-on" that the state board of education will define through legislative rules to offer extra protection to qualifying rural counties facing significant enrollment changes, potentially by adjusting the percentage floor or providing a special allowance based on factors like geographic isolation and local funding. The bill also clarifies that this stabilizer will not increase the total state funding for schools beyond what the Legislature appropriates, and the state board can implement it gradually or prorate benefits if needed to stay within budget.

Education

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=554&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill