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WV HB4720

Bill

Status

Introduced

1/22/2026

Primary Sponsor

Elias Coop-Gonzalez

Click for details

Origin

House of Delegates

2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Creates the Sustaining Opportunities for Academics in Rural Schools (SOAR) Act to establish rural public charter schools in areas outside metropolitan statistical areas with support from qualified sponsors
  • Provides supplemental funding of up to $2,500 per student enrolled in rural public charter schools, in addition to standard per-pupil charter school funding, subject to legislative appropriation
  • Allows abbreviated charter applications for conversion schools when the sponsor is an existing charter school in good standing or a higher education institution already operating a charter school
  • Requires rural charter school governing boards to have five members including at least two parents of enrolled students and one community resident, with the board able to eventually assume full charter authority from the sponsor
  • Mandates that county boards keep facilities available for prospective conversion charter schools once an application is submitted and authorizes the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board to accept all types of charter applications

Legislative Description

Creating Sustaining Opportunities for Academics in Rural Schools Act

Last Action

To House Education

1/22/2026

Committee Referrals

Education1/22/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available