Justice says Department of Education waiver could lead to restoration of budget cuts

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced on Tuesday that the state has received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education, allowing them to avoid having to spend an additional $465 million on education programs. This waiver comes as a relief to state officials, who can now focus on restoring funding that was previously cut from the budget bill.

The waiver was granted for the second year in a row, enabling West Virginia to use over $1.1 billion in COVID-19 relief funds without having to return any federal money. These funds were distributed to all 55 county school systems in the state.

In order to remain eligible for the relief funds, states were required to maintain a certain level of education spending compared to total budget expenditures. West Virginia fell short of this requirement in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, but was able to show increases in education spending through various means, such as teacher pay raises and funding for school projects.

Despite the waiver approval, Governor Justice expressed disappointment in the budget cuts made by the Legislature, including reductions to Medicaid and the intellectual and developmental disability waiver program. He plans to call lawmakers into a special session in May to address these cuts and restore funding to critical programs.

Overall, the waiver provides a much-needed reprieve for West Virginia as they navigate the complexities of education funding and budget allocations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay tuned for updates on how the state plans to move forward in ensuring adequate support for its education system and vulnerable populations.