West Virginia’s first charter schools continue moving toward opening this fall, with about 1,500 students anticipated for four schools.
That translates to about $9 million to $11 million in state support, said Adam Kissel, chairman of the West Virginia Professional Charter Schools Board.
“That compares to the other 99 percent of students having $1 billion or $1.1 billion to work with their schools, Kissel said during a regular meeting of the board this morning.
“I would emphasize that only 90 percent of the per-pupil revenue goes to the charter school and 10 percent is retained by the student-zoned district. So maybe that’s more money per student, even though it’s less money per bureaucrat. So I think districts should be happy that they’re getting more money per student because of the existence of school options.
West Virginia’s overall public school enrollment at the start of the current school year was 252,910.
West Virginia has had no charter schools until now, after passing a state law allowing them in 2019. Charter schools would receive financial support from the state’s public education system and would be given greater operational latitude in exchange for the possibility of losing their right to operate if they fail.
James Paul, the executive director of the professional charter schools board, described the projected enrollment for each of the schools opening up this fall.
Virtual Prep Academy, online only, is expecting about 360 students “and we’ll see if they maintain the same pattern in early July.”
West Virginia Virtual Academy, also online, is at 155 students, up from 108 a few weeks ago. “And talking with their team, they’re still expecting between 500 and 1,000.” Paul said that is based on experience with other charter schools under the same management. “So we’ll keep monitoring that.”
Eastern Panhandle Preparatory Academy has enrolled 247 and has another 81 in the enrollment process.
West Virginia Academy in Morgantown reported 394 students for the fall.
Some West Virginia legislators visited West Virginia Academy while participating in interim meetings in Morgantown last month.
Delegate Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson, described being “really excited to be able to walk through their facility, which essentially will be a temporary facility for the next couple of years — but seeing some of the construction, the renovation that’s taking place and this previously commercial space.
Espinosa said he was also excited to hear about vigorous enrollment “despite some folks who have suggested that there’s probably not much demand for public charter schools in West Virginia.” Espinosa was speaking on “Panhandle Live” on WEPM Radio.
“They anticipate and believe that they can accommodate additional students as enrollment continues through the next month or so.”
Another school that had been approved, Nitro Preparatory Academy, is still looking for a location for classes and is planning an extension to open next year instead.
“We have filed to defer the opening of the charter by one year, with plans to open a public charter school in the area in Fall 2023,” said Courtney Harritt, speaking for Accel Schools, which would run Nitro Prep.
“We continue to evaluate potential school properties, but unfortunately it can be a lengthy process, and we felt like the timeline was becoming unfavorable for a Fall 2022 opening. We have a number of promising locations we are evaluating in the area and would likely have an update sometime this fall.”