Bill > HB4817

This bill modifies the Charter Schools Startup Fund, renaming it from the Charter Schools Stimulus Fund, and expands its purpose to cover start-up or emergency costs for charter schools, including personnel, instructional materials, equipment, internet installation, security systems, building renovations, and school buses. To receive funds, applicants must submit a formal application to the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board, which will notify potential applicants of fund availability. If there are more applicants than available funding, the board will use a competitive process that prioritizes older schools, schools in rural areas (defined as non-metropolitan counties or outlying metropolitan counties without a large urban population center), and applicants not working with an education service provider. The bill also allows the board to set criteria for grants beyond a school's third year of operation. Grants, up to $300,000 initially and an additional $100,000 later, can be awarded from the time a school enters a contract until its third year of operation, with a requirement to repay the grant plus 10% annual interest if the school doesn't open within 30 months, though the board can extend this period in special circumstances.

Budget and Finance, Education

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4817&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill