West Virginia Faces School Closures Amid Declining Enrollment and Legislative Challenges
Empty Desks: West Virginia Grappling With Declining Public School Enrollment
The Intelligencer | Sunday, November 17, 2024
By Staff
In an article from The Intelligencer, education officials in West Virginia discuss the troubling trend of declining public school enrollment, prompting various counties to consider school closures and consolidations. The West Virginia Board of Education recently approved plans for several school closures in Kanawha County, including multiple elementary and middle schools. Factors contributing to the decline in enrollment include the state's new open enrollment program, public charter schools, and the Hope Scholarship education voucher program. Officials stress the need for legislative support to revise funding mechanisms for community schools as public schools face significant financial challenges amidst a shrinking student population.
