West Virginia Democrats call for special session on education reform

Democrats in the West Virginia House of Delegates are calling for urgent education reforms and are urging Governor Patrick Morrisey to convene a special legislative session in September.

The push for reform follows concerns regarding the state’s school aid funding formula, the sustainability of the Hope Scholarship Program, and the need for higher minimum starting salaries for teachers. Legislators are also highlighting issues with special education funding and the departure of tens of thousands of students from the public school system between 2012 and 2024.

House Education Committee Minority Chair Anitra Hamilton emphasized the need for a bipartisan, comprehensive plan to strengthen public education, noting that more than a dozen schools closed last year. House Minority Leader Mike Pushkin criticized the Republican-led legislature for failing to properly update the school aid funding formula during the regular session.