The "Sustaining Opportunities for Academics in Rural Schools Act" (SOAR), introduced on March 24, 2025, seeks to enhance educational access in rural West Virginia by establishing a framework for in-person public charter schools. The bill outlines criteria for creating these schools, including the formation of a governing board and a sponsorship process with existing public charter schools. It emphasizes the importance of preventing unnecessary school consolidations and provides financial support mechanisms, such as per-pupil funding and additional resources for services offered by sponsoring schools. Key provisions also allow authorized public charter schools to submit abbreviated applications for new campuses and establish joint agreements with county boards for managing attendance areas and transportation.

The governance structure for these rural charter schools is further detailed in the bill, which stipulates that the initial governing board will consist of four members until a superintendent is appointed. An ad hoc committee will collaborate with the sponsoring charter school to propose the permanent board's members and selection process, which may involve community input. The permanent governing board will have authority over personnel decisions, subject to approval from the sponsoring school, and will manage all school property independently. The bill also mandates the state board to create rules for the operation of these governing boards and allows for the possibility of changing the sponsoring charter school if necessary.

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