West Virginia Department of Education briefs lawmakers on proposal for new school funding formula

The West Virginia Department of Education presented a draft proposal to lawmakers to reform the state's school funding formula. The new weighted formula would shift funding distribution from primarily student enrollment to one based more on the needs of students in specific counties, with an estimated additional annual cost of $410 million. This comes as student enrollment is projected to continue declining, while the cost of educating rural and special needs students is expected to rise.