News Summary
Paul Hardesty, president of the West Virginia Board of Education, has called for legislative action to address public school funding issues amid growing school choice initiatives. He highlighted that over 35,000 students have shifted from public schools to private education or homeschooling in the past decade. Hardesty expressed concerns about the existing school aid formula, which he argues exacerbates funding challenges for public schools, particularly as student enrollment continues to decline. The discussion also touches on the implications of the Hope Scholarship program and the closure of public schools, raising questions about future educational equity in the state.
Charleston, West Virginia — Paul Hardesty, the president of the West Virginia Board of Education, has called for legislative action to address concerns regarding public school funding and the implications of the school choice initiative. Hardesty’s remarks come amidst increasing debate over the impact of educational alternatives such as private schools and homeschooling on public school enrollment and financial stability.
Hardesty pointed out that approximately 35,000 students have transitioned from public schools to private education or homeschooling over the past decade due to the school choice movement. While he does not oppose school choice, he raises critical concerns over its consequences for public school systems, particularly regarding funding and enrollment figures. Hardesty stresses that there is a widespread misunderstanding about how state education laws, including the West Virginia School Laws book, are created and managed, clarifying that it is not authored by the Board or the Department of Education.
Hardesty argues for a revisitation of the current school aid formula that determines funding distribution to help struggling public schools. He believes that the existing formula unfairly allocates state funds based on student enrollment, meaning that any drop in student numbers severely impacts financial support for public education. There has already been a noted decline in student population with projections indicating that West Virginia’s public school enrollment may fall below 241,000 in the current academic year.
Amidst the backdrop of a notable pattern of school consolidations, Hardesty emphasized that 16 public schools are set to close in 2024, a significant increase from nine the previous year. This trend of consolidation further raises alarms about the sustainability of remaining public institutions, particularly as students with the most significant challenges often remain in public schools, placing additional burdens on these facilities.
West Virginia has introduced the Hope Scholarship program, which allocates financial assistance for homeschooling and nonpublic education. This program, however, has a budget of less than $100 million for the current school year, with expectations for gradual increases to around $245 million by the 2026-2027 period. Hardesty expresses concern that, without appropriate oversight and equitable treatment of public schools, programs like the Hope Scholarship could jeopardize public school viability, potentially pushing these institutions toward financial instability.
In response to the discussions around school choice and public school funding, Senator Patricia Rucker remarked that the legislature shouldn’t be held accountable for the under-enrollment of public schools, pointing out that school consolidations have been an ongoing trend for decades. Meanwhile, Delegate Joe Satlar acknowledged the complexity of reforming the school aid formula, suggesting that a comprehensive overhaul is needed, though such changes will be time-consuming.
The ongoing discussions regarding school choice and public school funding, along with the complexities of the school aid formula, highlight a critical intersection of policy, community needs, and educational equity in West Virginia. Hardesty’s call for legislative action reflects a broader concern about the future of public education in a rapidly changing landscape, with important debates anticipated at upcoming Board meetings, the next of which is scheduled for November 12, 2025.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Vallejo School District Announces Town Hall Meetings on Closures
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West Virginia Faces Public School Enrollment Crisis
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Additional Resources
- WSAZ: West Virginia BOE President Calls for School Choice Guardrails
- News and Sentinel: West Virginia Board of Education President Challenges Lawmakers
- WOWK TV: West Virginia BOE President Urges Legislators on School Choice
- Wikipedia: Education in West Virginia
- K-12 Dive: Private School Choice Participation Increase
- Google Search: West Virginia Education Funding
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