WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 801

Increasing each school district's basic foundation program

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Amy Grady

SB 801 would increase per-pupil funds in West Virginia’s basic foundation program, boosting district funding to strengthen K-12 resources statewide.

To Finance
#education(k12)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 801

Summary of SB 801 (Session 2026) – West Virginia

Purpose and intent

SB 801 seeks to increase the basic foundation program funding for each school district in West Virginia. The basic foundation program is the main funding mechanism used to support public K-12 education in the state. The bill aims to provide higher per-pupil resources to districts, with the goal of strengthening overall school funding adequacy and reducing disparities across districts.

Key provisions and changes

  • Increase to the basic foundation program: The bill raises the funding amount allocated per student (the basic foundation funds) that districts receive. This represents an across-the-board boost to per-pupil state support for educational programs and operations.
  • Distribution method: The bill maintains the core structure of distributing funds through the state’s basic foundation program but augments the per-pupil allocation. Details on calculation methodology, such as districts’ enrollment counts used for funding, are expected to follow the current foundation framework with the added per-pupil increase.
  • Potential accompanying requirements: The bill may outline expectations for districts to utilize the increased funds in alignment with existing education goals (e.g., classroom staffing, instructional resources, and priority areas defined by the state’s education plan). Exact use-of-funds guidelines would be specified in the bill text or implementing regulations.
  • Fiscal notes and funding source: The proposal would necessitate additional state revenue to support the higher per-pupil foundation amount. The fiscal impact statement (often included with Finance committee work) would detail estimated annual costs, any phased implementation, and potential offsets or efficiencies.

Who and what would be affected

  • School districts statewide: All local districts that participate in the state’s basic foundation funding would see an increase in per-pupil dollars.
  • Students: Indirectly benefited through greater state investment in district operations, classrooms, and resources.
  • Districts with varying enrollments: All districts would gain, but the proportional impact depends on current per-pupil funding levels and enrollment figures.
  • State agencies and governance: The Education and Finance committees would oversee implementation, budget adjustments, and any necessary administrative changes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referrals: Filed on February 6, 2026, and routed to Education and Finance committees for review.
  • Committee action: As of the action history, the bill was referred to Education, then Finance, with a subsequent “reported do pass, but first to Finance” action on February 11, 2026, indicating the committee approved a favorable report contingent on continued consideration by Finance.
  • Next steps: If the Finance Committee approves, the bill would proceed to full chamber consideration and then potentially to the other chamber as part of the legislative process. Final passage would require approval by both chambers and the governor.

Additional notes

  • The bill’s co-sponsor is Amy Grady.
  • The summary reflects the stated objective: increasing each school district’s basic foundation program, which focuses on enhancing state funding levels per student to support K-12 education.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize potential fiscal impact estimates, anticipated implementation timelines, or comparisons to current foundation funding levels, once the bill’s exact statutory language and fiscal notes are available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.