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The West Virginia Professional Charter School Board (PCSB) will hold a public forum on WISH Academy’s application to establish a new public charter school in Huntington. The meeting, part of the board’s review process of the application, will be held Friday, Sept. 25 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Marshall University’s Corbly Hall.
The school proposes to open in August 2027 with pre-kindergarten through third grade and expand through fifth grade, subject to charter approval. The full application is not currently available on the board’s website.
If approved, the WISH Academy would become the state’s seventh brick and mortar public charter school; two virtual charter schools also operate in West Virginia.
House Bill 260, which in 2019 formalized the creation of charter schools in the state, initially allowed three pilot charter schools before that number was bumped up to 10. According to the PCSB website beginning July 2023, and every 3 years thereafter, an additional 10 public charter schools may be authorized and in operation meaning 30 public charter schools could be operational in West Virginia.
In 2024 the PCSB announced a new partnership with consultant Ampersand Education to produce marketing materials and campaigns to attract charter school applicants.
A case pending before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia argues the creation of charter schools is unconstitutional without voter approval.