West Virginia governor calls special session for school funding amid FAFSA issues, other proposals

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is calling state lawmakers back to the Capitol to consider an $80 million allocation to the state’s colleges and universities to help students pay for school amid the ongoing federal financial aid crisis, among other proposals.

The Republican governor released a proclamation Friday for a special session beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday, when legislators are already convening at the state Capitol for May interim meetings.

The proclamation lists 15 items for the Legislature to consider and act on, including a $150 million proposal for highway maintenance, $50 million for a new state agricultural lab at West Virginia State University and more than $80 million to the state’s colleges and universities.

The $80 million would help provide funding for students affected by the Federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) crisis.

Students applying for college have been left in limbo this year as they await the Education Department’s overhaul of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The form, known as FAFSA, is used to determine eligibility for federal Pell Grants, and colleges and states use it to award their own financial aid to students. The update was meant to simplify the form but took months longer than expected. It gives colleges less time to make financial aid offers to students, and it gives students less time to decide where to enroll.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> West Virginia GOP Senate