SB 516 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Providing extra state aid to school districts for students enrolled in extremely remote schools

SB 516 provides additional state funding to West Virginia school districts for students attending "extremely remote schools," defined as schools in counties with a student population density below five students per square mile. The bill increases the funding calculation by counting each student in such schools as 2.5 students instead of one for state aid purposes. County school boards receiving this extra funding are prohibited from closing an extremely remote school during the fiscal year they receive the aid. The bill also requires school districts to submit specific documentation and meet reporting requirements to qualify for the additional funding.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2025 Last action Mar 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from an introduced version to a committee substitute version, primarily adding new substantive provisions for funding extremely remote schools and clarifying definitions. The committee substitute adds a new section (§18-9A-13) requiring additional state aid for schools meeting specific remote criteria, prohibits closing such schools while receiving aid, and establishes reporting requirements. Several definitions were added or modified to clarify density classifications and personnel categories, while some formatting and navigation elements were removed from the text.

Scope change

The bill now includes specific provisions for extremely remote schools with new eligibility criteria (20+ miles from other schools, 20+ students), funding protections against school closures, and new density-based county classifications.

FISCAL

Added new section §18-9A-13 requiring additional state aid for extremely remote schools to cover building operations, weather preparedness, and professional development.

ELIGIBILITY

Defined 'extremely remote school' as a school located 20+ miles from other schools serving at least 20 students.

REQUIREMENT

Added prohibition on closing extremely remote schools during fiscal years when receiving additional state aid.

Added annual reporting requirements for counties receiving funding for extremely remote schools.

DEFINITION

Added new density classifications (low, medium, high) and definitions for technology integration specialists and state aid eligible personnel.

Modified net enrollment definition to clarify counting rules and added sparse-density county definition.

TECHNICAL

Removed navigation elements, website links, and page numbers that were part of the legislative website interface rather than bill text.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

To Finance

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

To Education

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

To Education then Finance

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors