Relating to public charter schools code provisions

New requirement that county boards cannot harass, threaten, or discriminate against employees involved in charter school applications, with seniority protections for those transferring to charter schools.

New tracking process requiring charter schools to notify county attendance directors when students withdraw, ensuring continuity of attendance records.

Permission for non-certified teachers to proctor state assessments if they complete annual training, with charter schools maintaining a list of qualified staff.

Updated governing board composition requirements to include specific expertise areas and conflict of interest disclosure obligations.

New requirement for charter schools to establish staffing plans verifying teacher qualifications and licensure.

New requirement for annual external audits of charter school finances submitted within nine months of fiscal year end.

New category for 'alternative high-risk population' charter schools requiring at least 70% of enrollment to consist of high-risk students (expelled, suspended, foster youth, etc.).

Added new §18-5G-4 establishing the state board's powers and duties for charter school oversight, including consultation with charter organizations, application forms, training programs, and annual reporting requirements.

Modified student tracking requirements to clarify that tracking responsibilities apply when students withdraw to either public school districts or other schools (including charter schools, homeschools, private schools, and out-of-state schools).

Modified proctoring requirements for state assessments to require charter schools to maintain a list of staff who have completed annual training to serve as proctors.

Added eligibility for closing public schools to undergo fast-track conversion to charter schools for the upcoming school year.

Added requirement for charter schools to establish staffing plans that include teacher qualifications and certification verification.

Added requirement for charter schools to engage external auditors annually and submit audits within nine months of fiscal year end.

Added provision that when a student withdraws from a charter school and returns to their county district, the district becomes responsible for tracking the student.

Added protection against county boards harassing or discriminating against employees involved in charter school applications.

Removed website navigation links, headers, and formatting artifacts that were not part of the actual legislative text.

Added new §18-5G-14a establishing eligibility criteria for alternative high-risk population charter schools, requiring at least 70% of enrollment to be high-risk students including expelled students, suspended students, foster youth, and others with specific challenges.

Added specific requirements for tracking students when parents withdraw them from charter schools, requiring notification to county attendance directors with student identification information.

Modified board member removal provisions to allow removal by a vote of the governing board in addition to provisions in §6-6-7.

Added requirement for external annual financial audits to be submitted within nine months of fiscal year end.

Added detailed definition of 'high-risk' students including expelled students, those suspended more than 10 days, wards of the court, recovered dropouts, habitual truants, and those with high-level transiency.

Added requirement for state board to promulgate rules setting forth requirements for alternative high-risk population charter school funding.

Updated bill passage date from March 4, 2025 to April 11, 2025 and changed effective date to 90 days from passage (July 10, 2025).

Added requirement that public charter school teachers who are not certified or licensed must complete annual training to proctor state assessments.

Charter schools must now establish staffing plans that include requisite qualifications and certification/licensure for teachers and instructional staff, and verify these requirements are met.

New tracking process established when parents withdraw students from charter schools, with receiving schools/districts responsible for tracking and charter schools required to provide withdrawal notifications.

Public charter school teachers who are not certified or licensed in the State are permitted to proctor state assessments, provided the school maintains a list of staff who completed annual proctor training.

West Virginia Board of Education must establish best practices for charter school authorizing and governance, including organizational capacity, application evaluation, contract frameworks, and oversight procedures.

Charter school governing boards must include at least two parents and two community residents, with specific requirements for conflict of interest disclosure and collective expertise in leadership, curriculum, law, and finance.

Charter school exemptions from noncharter public school statutes were expanded to include additional requirements such as criminal history checks, zoning rules, building codes, transportation safety laws, and annual external financial audits.

New requirement for charter schools to engage external auditors annually and submit audits to the authorizer and state superintendent within nine months of fiscal year end.