The bill introduces the "Sustaining Opportunities for Academics in Rural Schools Act" (SOAR) to amend existing laws regarding public charter schools in West Virginia, with a focus on enhancing educational opportunities in rural areas. It empowers the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board to accept various types of applications for public charter schools, particularly emphasizing the need for conversion public charter schools to maintain existing facilities during the application process. The bill outlines essential information required in charter applications, including governance structure, student achievement goals, and strategies for serving underperforming students, while also defining key terms related to rural education.

Key provisions of the SOAR Act include the establishment of new governance structures, requiring charter approval by a majority vote of the authorizer, and the formation of a governing board within 90 days of a school's opening. This board must consist of five members, including at least two parents of enrolled students and one community resident, ensuring that no board member is an employee of the school or its sponsor. The bill also allows for an ad hoc committee to propose initial board members and grants the governing board the authority to request a charter transfer from the sponsor, with a 90-day response period for the authorizer. Additionally, the state board is tasked with creating rules to guide the operation of these rural public charter schools, thereby enhancing their governance and support structures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5G-8, 18-5G-12, 18-5G-18