Bill > HB5453

This bill establishes a revised method for school aid funding in West Virginia, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, by introducing a base funding amount and a supplemental fund. For the 2029-2030 school year and beyond, county school districts will receive a block grant of $6,100 per enrolled student, with a minimum funding level equivalent to 1,200 students for smaller counties, though public charter schools will be funded at $8,600 per student and are not subject to the minimum student count. A new "Supplemental School Aid Fund" will be created to provide additional funding for special needs students, with specific per-pupil allotments for Tier II ($3,050) and Tier III ($6,100) special needs students, and any remaining funds can be used for extraordinary expenses such as transportation, vocational education, alternative learning centers, and pilot programs, with distribution at the discretion of the State Department of Education. The bill also mandates reporting on fund distribution to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability (LOCEA) and grants the Legislature oversight to restrict funds in cases of maladministration, defined as specific financial or reporting failures.