Frequently Asked Questions

A charter school is a tuition-free public school open to all students in the state. Charter schools are exempt from many regulatory constraints and are permitted to operate with distinctive curriculum, academic themes, and instructional methods. In exchange for this flexibility, charter schools must adhere to the terms that are negotiated in the contract—the “charter”—with their authorizer. In West Virginia, charter schools may be authorized by the Professional Charter School Board. The school and the PCSB agree to a charter contract, typically five years long. This contract outlines performance standards a school must meet to remain open and be renewed for another five years.

Yes, all charter schools are independently operated public schools. They receive state funds—in West Virginia, 99 percent of the per-pupil total basic foundation allowance—and administer the same state assessments found in noncharter public schools.

A virtual charter school is a tuition-free public school that educates students through internet-based communication. Lessons may be synchronous or asynchronous, allowing students to interact with teachers and peers in real-time and to make progress at his or her own pace.

A charter school authorizer is the entity that decides whether a charter school applicant may begin educating children. In West Virginia, county school boards and the Professional Charter School Board are empowered to authorize charter schools. Authorizers negotiate charter contracts, oversee school performance, ensure that schools are upholding the terms of their contract, and decide whether the school remains open or not.

Charter schools are exempt from many regulatory requirements, which allow school leaders to innovate and flexibly serve the unique needs of each student. Charter schools, however, are still bound by federal laws pertaining to civil rights, disability rights, and health and safety requirements applicable to noncharter public schools.

No

No, charter schools are open to all residents in West Virginia. In the event that demand for charter schools exceeds the available supply of classroom seats, a random lottery will determine which students are admitted.

Charter schools are held accountable by the terms of their charter contract, which are monitored by the charter school authorizer. Moreover, charter schools are directly accountable to parents—because charter schools only receive funding when parents choose to enroll their children.

Yes. Charter schools may offer athletics for participating students.

If a charter school does not sponsor an extracurricular athletic and/or academic interscholastic activity for the students enrolled in the public charter school, the public charter school students may participate on the same basis as other public school students in those activities that are sponsored by the noncharter public school serving the attendance area in which the student resides.

For example, if a charter school does not have a football team, students may play football at the zoned traditional public high school.

The PCSB is generally the final arbiter of all compliance regarding charter schools authorized by PCSB. If WVDE or another agency believes that a charter school is not in compliance regarding any matter (with limited exceptions), the agency should notify the PCSB Executive Director with details. If an agency believes that a charter school must act or refrain from acting in any matter, PCSB will make the final determination. Other agencies generally should not mandate or prohibit actions without PCSB approval.

Charter schools are exempt from most state educational requirements. In some areas, charter schools are subject to federal but not state requirements. To the extent that state requirements differ from or exceed federal requirements, charter schools are generally exempt. Please see the charter school law for exceptions.

No. Certification by the Department of Education is optional. Every charter school teacher must be either certified by the West Virginia Department of Education, OR satisfy all the following requirements, as certified by the school to the PCSB:

• Be a citizen of the United States or otherwise holds a valid credential to be employed in the United States

• Be 18 years by the time the teacher begins instructional duties

• Be physically, mentally, emotionally, and morally qualified to perform the duties of a teacher, as determined by the charter school

• Meet the charter school’s requirements for employment, including relevant academic or occupational qualification or experience that reasonably indicates the applicant will perform his or her instructional duties competently; and

• Passes a criminal history record check and fingerprinting requirements applicable to noncharter public schools in West Virginia.

Yes, charter students are required to take the same assessments as non-charter public school students. Charter schools participate in the state accountability system and follow state guidelines and regulations for administering state tests and providing necessary data for state reporting.

For the most part, no. Policy 3300 mostly does not apply to schools authorized by the PCSB. Administrative proclamations by the State Board or West Virginia Department of Education only apply in narrow circumstances specifically identified by the legislature in the charter school law. For example, participation in the state accountability system is a rare instance in which Policy 3300 is applicable to PCSB authorized schools, since the statute explicitly mentions the State Board will ensure “the accountability of public charter schools for meeting the standards for student performance required of other public school students.”

Members of the governing board for the prospective charter school may use the PCSB application form or the State Board's application form.

No. Your family is simply responsible for contacting the desired charter school and enrolling directly with the charter school.

The charter school will communicate with the West Virginia Department of Education to inform the Department about the student’s home address.

Yes. Public charter schools are treated the same as traditional county schools under the Hope Scholarship Program.

Hope Scholarship students may take piecemeal classes from public schools, including public charter schools, for a fee.

However, students enrolled full-time in charter schools are not eligible to participate in the Hope Scholarship program.

Parents should submit a Notice of Intent [as required in W. Va. Code §18-8-1(m)] to both the Superintendent of their county of residence and to the public charter school where the student is actively enrolled.

If the Notice of Intent indicates the student is participating in the Hope Scholarship during the current school year, the charter school will immediately withdraw the student upon receipt of the Notice of Intent. If the Notice of Intent indicates the student will be participating in the Hope Scholarship program during the subsequent school year, the charter school will withdraw the student upon conclusion of the current school year.

Yes, subject to the normal, content-neutral approval processes of the charter school.

Charter schools receive most of their funding through the state’s basic foundational allowance. Beginning in 2023-24, students in charter schools are allocated 99 percent of the basic foundational allowance funds that would have been allocated to the student’s county of residence. In 2023-24, this is roughly $7,200 per student. More funds are available for charter schools that elect to participate in the state health insurance program or the state retirement program. Federal funds (Titles 1-4, IDEA, Perkins, and National School Lunch) are also available to charter schools on a reimbursement basis.

If you have a problem or complaint with a charter school, the most productive way to resolve it is with administrators at the school. Charter schools are independent public schools, with many of the operational decisions made on-site. You may also attend your school’s governing board meetings to voice concerns. If you remain unsatisfied after speaking with administrators and/or governing board members, and if you believe the issue involves noncompliance with applicable laws, you may consider filing a formal complaint with the PCSB.

If you wish to allege serious impairments in the quality of education in a public charter school—or that a charter school is failing to comply with its charter contract or legal requirements—please email james.paul@wvpcsb.org under the subject line “Formal Complaint.” Also include your full name, contact information, a statement of facts on which the allegation of noncompliance is based, and supporting evidence.

Yes, just as at other public schools.

In October 2023, the PCSB was selected for funding under The Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program. The PCSB plans to administer eight subgrants over the course of the grant period—five to newly created charter schools and three to expanding charter schools already serving West Virginians. More information about how eligible applicants may apply for subgrants will be forthcoming.

Pursuant to the PCSB’s requirements under the West Virginia Freedom of Information (“FOIA”) Act under W. Va. Code 29B-1-1, et seq., the Executive Director is the custodian of the Board’s public records. The PCSB authorizes its Executive Director to receive formal FOIA requests, review and investigate the same, gather the responsive documents, discuss any potential privileges or exemptions with legal counsel, and produce non-privileged, non-exempt, and responsive documents to the requestor in a timely manner.

Requests for information must state with reasonable specificity the information sought. Ideally, the request will specify a time period for the information sought.

Email your FOIA request to James Paul, the Executive Director, at James.paul@wvpcsb.org.

Email James Paul, the Executive Director, at James.paul@wvpcsb.org.