The bill seeks to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing the "Sustaining Opportunities for Academics in Rural Schools Act" (SOAR), which aims to enhance educational access in rural areas. It establishes provisions for the creation of rural in-person public charter schools for students who face long commutes to the nearest noncharter public school. The legislation outlines a governance structure requiring a separate governing board for these schools, distinct from the sponsoring public charter school, and details the roles of the sponsoring school in providing necessary administrative support. Additionally, it allows existing public charter schools in good standing to apply for second locations and mandates funding provisions for rural charter schools.

Furthermore, the bill specifies that the initial governing board will consist of four members until a superintendent or designee is appointed, with an ad hoc committee proposing the permanent board's initial members. The permanent governing board will have authority over personnel decisions, subject to approval by the sponsoring public charter school's governing board. The state board is tasked with creating rules for the establishment and operation of these governing boards, ensuring a smooth transition from the ad hoc committee to the permanent board. Overall, the SOAR Act aims to improve educational opportunities and governance in rural West Virginia schools while maintaining compliance with existing laws.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5G-8