MORGANTOWN — State senators are once again considering a bill to help some small, financially struggling county school systems by setting a base enrollment figure for their school aid formula dollars.
SB 41 says that beginning in the 2023-24 school year, no county’s net enrollment will be set below 1,200 students. The Senate Education Committee reviewed and passed it Thursday morning.
Committee chair Amy Grady, R-Mason, said the bill would affect three counties that have net enrollment below 1,200: Calhoun, Gilmer and Wirt.
Committee counsel told the members they don’t know the projected cost yet. The bill contains a funding formula based on current law and a fiscal note is in the works to project the numbers. But they believe at the moment the amount is roughly $7,500 per student.
Children enrolled in home schools or private schools are not factored into enrollment, members learned —– just those enrolled in the public schools.
Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel, is lead sponsor. He sponsored the same bill last year, which also passed Education but was sent to Finance, where it never saw an agenda. This one also goes to Finance.
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