The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to enhance the operational framework of public charter schools, introducing several key provisions. It stipulates that public charter schools can only charge tuition or fees that are comparable to those of noncharter public schools for part-time enrollment or student activities. Additionally, the bill allows charter schools to employ personnel for managing retirement system participation and insurance plans, and it mandates that the school district of a student's county of residence is responsible for tracking students who withdraw from a charter school and return to the public school system. It also permits public charter school teachers to proctor state assessments regardless of their certification status and allows for the removal of governing board members by a board vote.

Moreover, the bill establishes provisions for alternative high-risk population public charter schools, requiring that at least 70% of their enrollment consists of high-risk students, such as those who have been expelled, suspended, or are homeless. The West Virginia Board of Education is tasked with creating rules for the funding of these alternative schools, and institutions of higher education are allowed to apply for authorizations to create virtual or on-campus public charter microschools. The bill also enables existing public charter schools to partner with learning pods and microschools for instructional services, while allowing charter schools to submit amendments to their applications at any time for approval or rejection by the authorizer. Overall, the bill aims to expand educational opportunities for at-risk populations and enhance the charter school framework with innovative educational models.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5G-3, 18-5G-7, 18-5G-8, 18-5G-14a, 18-5G-18