Charter Schools Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Proposed Morgantown Charter School Holds Public Forum For Second Application

The only organization currently pursuing approval for a charter school in the state held a public forum in Morgantown last week.

Last year, the Wisdom Academy submitted an application to the Professional Charter School Board to become West Virginia’s latest charter school. However, the application was rejected.

Javaid Syed is the board chair for Wisdom Academy. He said a lack of financing was the main reason for the rejection.

“What you want is you want commitments,” he said. “So this year, we have gotten commitments over $900,000 from our community. And we have submitted that as well. Plus, we have made major changes in our application as well.”

Now, the Wisdom Academy is applying again. Some of the changes Syed referred to include a rigorous assessment schedule for potential students, part of the proposed school’s “Individual Performance Plan for Success” (IPPS). Described in the application as a “portfolio like” database of student materials, board members like Debra Harrison said the IPPS will be used to assess students quarterly with teacher, administrative and parental input.

“If you put a process or a program in place, you need to monitor it to make sure it’s being effective,” Harrison said. “One of the things that often happens is these wonderful programs are put into place, and then the appropriate monitoring doesn’t occur, so that you can’t really determine the success of that program.”

A lifelong educator, Harrison joined the Wisdom Academy board between application cycles and helped develop the school’s new curriculum and assessment program.

“We will be continually monitoring the pieces that we put into place, and they will be monitored quarterly, and we can immediately intervene if we see that there’s a deficit, or we can also accelerate students,” she said. “If we find that there’s an area of interest that they’re excelling in, then we can provide them those opportunities as well.”

If approved, the school would open its doors in the fall of 2025 and become the second physical charter school in Morgantown and the fifth in the state. At a public forum this past Thursday, Syed and other board members laid out the case for the charter school. Their pitch amounts to taking advantage of a charter school’s curricular flexibility to address a cultural need in the Morgantown community.

“There’s a community here, a pretty large community, and they feel that the kind of needs that they have, the current schools are not meeting,” Syed said. “Plus the children are being sort of mishandled.”

Muslim students at Morgantown High School were recently granted a space to conduct group prayers on Friday after a year of discussion with school and county administration.

Both last year and again at this year’s public forum, attendants specifically asked about the school teaching Arabic as a foreign language. Syed said the school will be free to choose any language to teach that the community may like.

Abdo Buais is a Morgantown business owner. Despite not having children of his own, he attended the Oct. 10 forum, and said his friends need a different way of educating their kids that better fits their culture.

“For example my people, they came from Arabic countries,” Buais said. “In the future, they cannot speak Arabic, this is one of the problems. So they need some place that can, after school, they can also learn Arabic.”

Buais, who is originally from Yemen, also said a growing Spanish-speaking community in Morgantown would benefit from the flexibility a charter school can offer. In his presentation, Syed highlighted extensive after school extracurriculars as part of the school’s plan for student development.

The Wisdom Academy is currently the only active charter school application in the state. At its recent board meeting, the Professional Charter School Board announced a new partnership with consultant Ampersand Education to produce marketing materials and campaigns to attract charter school applicants.

James Paul is the executive director of the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board. He said he has worked with the Wisdom Academy board to improve portions of their application.

“Our role as an authorizer is not to be a distant, far away body that just says yes or no,” Paul said. “I want to work with applicants and help them develop their application in a way that’s going to produce a school that’s most likely to succeed and most likely to fill needs in communities in West Virginia.”

Paul said people like Buais, along with a survey of local families presented as part of the application, are a good indicator that the school is wanted.

“Another indicator of demand for this school is the amount of individuals who have come out now two years in a row, to hear about the plans for Wisdom Academy in a public forum,” he said.

Paul said the board will give a decision on the application by the end of November.

Applying For A School Charter And Exploring Identity With Pins, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, undergrads at Shepherd University visually represent their LGBTQ experience on campus, and an organization tries again for a school charter.

On this West Virginia Morning, undergrads at Shepherd University say a school’s culture determines whether they feel comfortable exploring their identity. Jack Walker reports on students’ visual representations of their LGBTQ experience on campus.

Also, the only organization currently pursuing approval for a charter school in the state held a public forum in Morgantown last week. Chris Schulz reports on what could be the newest charter school in West Virginia.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Virtual Charter School Data Show Low But Improving Scores

Of the close to 3,400 students enrolled in charter schools in the state, more than 80 percent attend a virtual charter school.

As charter schools enter their third year of operation in West Virginia, student achievement data is now available from the first two years.

Professional Charter School Board Executive Director James Paul presented the board’s annual report to an interim meeting of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability Sunday.

The report includes state assessment results in math, English language arts and science that showed students in virtual charter schools scoring below the average for state public schools.

Of the students at West Virginia Virtual Academy, 14 percent were rated proficient on the state’s math assessment, while 36 percent were proficient in English language arts and 15 percent were proficient in science. At the Virtual Prep Academy, 20 percent of students were proficient in math, 34 percent were proficient in English language arts and 14 percent were proficient in science.

The average proficiency rates across the state, according to data from ZoomWV are: 36 percent proficiency in math, 45 percent proficiency in English language arts and 29 percent proficiency in science.

Paul says he believes that’s due in part because students that opt into virtual learning begin with lower average achievement.

“It’s why, certainly, I’d like to see these numbers increase. I’m pleased that they’re increasing from year one to year two, but this is something certainly that we’ll continue to watch closely.”

Of the close to 3,400 students enrolled in charter schools in the state, more than 80 percent attend a virtual charter school.

Brick and mortar charter schools fared better, with data from two physical public charter schools meeting or exceeding the state average proficiency. Students at West Virginia Academy in Morgantown averaged 40 percent proficiency in math, 55 percent proficiency in English language arts and 54 percent proficiency in science. Students at Eastern Panhandle Prep in Jefferson County averaged 40 percent proficiency in math, 50 percent proficiency in English language arts, and 28 percent proficiency in science.

Paul also reported on the status of a school that chose to relinquish its charter.

“This was Nitro Prep Academy, which was originally authorized to open to serve students in Kanawha and Putnam counties,” he said. “This school was actually originally authorized as early as 2022 but they had problems identifying a facility for multiple years.”

There has been renewed discussion in recent weeks about allowing public charter schools access to state School Building Authority funds to help ease startup costs and facilitate the purchase of facilities.

In his presentation, Paul also reported that a public charter school focused on business, the Mecca Business Learning Institute, has been authorized to open in Berkeley County in the fall of 2025. Another charter school in the Morgantown area – the Wisdom Academy – is continuing its application process after initially being rejected by the board last year.
Legislators asked several questions of Paul pertaining to the assessment data and instructional practices, before moving on to the promulgation of rules and amendments. Three rules were recommended by the commission without discussion.

A Second Special Session, Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath and Repurposed Power Plants, This West Virginia Week

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. Emily Rice is our host this week.

On this West Virginia Week, we start with the legislature’s second special session of the year. The Governor’s original call for this special session prioritized childcare tax credits and cutting the income tax by 5 percent, but once lawmakers gaveled in, discussions quickly devolved.

Statehouse Reporter, Caelan Bailey will tell us about one measure on nuclear regulations that passed with the smallest margin of 73 yeas out of 91 votes cast.

Plus, we’ll hear about the devastation in the southeast from Hurricane Helene and how West Virginia’s National Guard will help recovery efforts.

Also, a ballot amendment could decide the fate of medically assisted suicide in West Virginia this November, a possible transition from coal power to natural gas and a community pushes back against a new city ordinance.

Emily Rice is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, Randy Yohe and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Charter School Board Acquires Promotional Partner

The Professional Charter School Board will partner with Ampersand Education to produce marketing materials and campaigns to attract charter school applicants.

Executive Director James Paul said he hopes the partnership will kick start the number of charter school applicants and schools that the state has.

The Professional Charter School Board will partner with Ampersand Education to produce marketing materials and campaigns to attract charter school applicants.

Executive Director James Paul told the board at their Thursday meeting that the vendor will be paid from the $12 million in grants the board received from the U.S. Department of Education Charter Schools Program last year.

Paul said he hopes the partnership will kick start the number of charter school applicants and schools that the state has.

“They will conduct outreach to charter management organizations and potential founding board members inside and outside of the state,” he said. “The ultimate goal of this agreement will be for Ampersand, with the help of myself and the PCSB, to identify at least two high quality charter school applicants who will submit an application to the PCSB before the fall of 2025 so it’s my hope that, and it’s my belief that, this partnership that is just beginning to get underway, along with continued success in the legislature, can really kick start the number of charter school applicants and schools that we have in the state, and just continue to provide more options to families.”

House Bill 2012, which created the PCSB in 2021, also increased the number of authorized brick-and-mortar charter schools from three to 10. The law also states that beginning July 1, 2023, and every 3 years thereafter, an additional 10 public charter schools may be authorized.

But there are currently seven public charter schools in the state – three virtual schools and four brick-and-mortar schools – with another application pending.

More Grant Funds

Paul also updated the board on grant awards for Clarksburg Classical Academy and West Virginia Academy. He said both schools were selected for funding under the board’s sub grant program in August.

“The process for finalizing the award involves some communication up with the federal Department of Education and some communication down with the schools to make sure that everyone’s application is in order, that all the i’s are dotted, t’s are crossed before the schools start requesting drawdowns,” he said. “I’m also working to ensure that the budgets that the schools have submitted are in final shape, that they’re all for, that their budgets are for only allowable costs, and that they have appropriate objectives and performance measures.”

Paul reported he continues to interview candidates for a grants manager position to assist with federal work. He said he expects to hire someone into the role by the end of the month.

Program Audit

HB 2012 requires that the Legislative Auditor conduct an audit of the public charter school program two years after the first public charter school commences operation, the findings of which will be reported to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

“We’re now more than two years after the first public charter school has opened, so this is about to take place,” Paul said. “I’m told that this program audit will begin in the next few weeks, sometime this fall, and of course, I’ll be prepared to provide all the information that the legislative auditor’s team is interested in. We have many successful things to report, and I’m glad that we’ll be able to communicate this to the legislature.”

Renewal Application

Much of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the Workforce Initiative (WIN) Academy in South Charleston and their application for renewal. Paul said the school is applying for a five year renewal and plans to continue offering courses in nursing and advanced manufacturing for 11th and 12th graders. He said the board should be prepared to vote on the application at their next meeting, Oct. 31.

State Funding For Charter Schools Advanced By House Education Committee

Charter school advocates have long said a lack of startup funds makes it difficult for brick and mortar charter schools to open in the state, but a new bill may give them access to school building funds.

In the legislature’s second special session of the year, one bill being considered would allow charter schools to apply for state funding.

Charter school advocates have long said a lack of startup funds makes it difficult for brick and mortar charter schools to open in the state.

During a meeting Monday that lasted just five minutes, the House Education Committee discussed House Bill 227, which would authorize a public charter school to apply to the state School Building Authority (SBA) for funding to purchase a building.

House Education Minority Chair Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, voiced his opposition to the proposal.

“To me, this is further privatization of public funds,” he said. “I voted against the charter school bill initially. This sets them up to take away more public funding from our public schools for everybody’s kids. I’m just philosophically opposed to this.”

House Education Vice Chair Del. Joe Statler, R-Monongalia, pointed out that the legislature already appropriated money that could go toward this purpose.

“Mr. Chairman, if I’m not mistaken, in the budget we appropriated $12 million additional dollars to the SBA, which $5 million of them could go toward this funding of the public charter, if the SBA so votes it to happen is that correct?” Statler said.

House Education Chair Joe Ellington, R-Mercer, confirmed that Statler was correct, and reminded the committee that charter schools in West Virginia are considered a part of the state school system.

“I should remind everyone, this is considered a public charter school,” Ellington said. “This is not a private charter school. These are public charter schools, so they’re part of the public school system.”

The legislature also created a Charter School Stimulus Fund in 2023, but the fund has never been funded by the legislature.

The bill was approved 12 to six and now goes to the full House for its consideration.