Charter Schools
Governor McDonnell signs charter school legislation on June 23, 2010, at Richmond’s Patrick Henry School of Sciences and Arts.
Charter schools provide options for parents and students while allowing communities and educators to create innovative instructional programs that can be replicated elsewhere in the public school system.
All charter schools in Virginia are nonsectarian alternative public schools located within a school division and under the authority of a local school board.
Legislation proposed by Governor Robert F. McDonnell and approved by the 2010 General Assembly increases the level of state support and guidance in the development of charter schools in Virginia to ensure that local school boards receive quality charter school proposals. The legislation (HB 1390 and SB 737):
- Requires charter school applicants to submit the application to the Board of Education for a determination as to whether the application meets the board’s approval criteria prior to submitting the application to the local school board.
- Permits the applicant to petition the local school board for reconsideration of a decision to deny, revoke or fail to renew an application.
- Provides that prior to such reconsideration, the applicant may seek technical assistance from VDOE.
- Requires local school boards to give at least 14 days’ notice of intent to receive public comment on a charter school application.
- Provides that if a local school board denies an application, it must provide the applicant with the reasons for the decision and post such reasons on its website.
- Requires local school boards to establish a process for reconsideration, including an opportunity for public comment.
- Allows an applicant to seek technical assistance from VDOE prior to reconsideration by the local school board.
- Provides that upon reconsideration, the decision of the local school board shall be final and not subject to appeal.
- Permits an applicant who has been denied approval to submit a new application.
A Virginia public charter school may be approved or renewed for a period not to exceed five school years; however, the school can be granted multiple renewals that permit operation for more than a total of five years.
Virginia Public Charter School Application
Application Documents:
- A description of the Virginia Public Charter School Application Process (PDF)
- Virginia Public Charter School Application (Word) – The application must be submitted to the Board of Education.
- Criteria Checklist for Virginia Public Charter School Applications (Word)
Board of Education Reviews
The Board of Education is in the process of aligning its procedures for reviewing charter school proposals with the provisions of HB 1390 and SB 737. Updated information about the review process will be posted here as it becomes available.
- Board of Education Charter School Committee schedule and agendas
- Charter School Legislation and Revision of the Board’s Charter School Review Process (PDF) – presentation to the Board of Education on April 21, 2010
- Previous Procedures for Review of Charter School Applications and Directions for Submission (PDF)
USED Charter School Program Grants
The U.S. Department of Education’s (USED) Charter Schools Program (CSP) oversees several grant opportunities each year. Additional information is available on the USED website.
Public Charter School Fund
In 2007, the General Assembly created within the treasury a special public charter school fund. Gifts, grants, bequests or donations from public or private sources paid into the state treasury and credited to the fund are used solely for the purposes of establishing or supporting public charter schools. See Criteria for Making Distributions from the Public Charter School Fund (PDF).
Charter School Annual Reports
The Board of Education reports annually to the governor and General Assembly on charter schools and on the number of charter school applications approved and denied by local school boards.
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | (PDF)
Virginia's Public Charter Schools
There are four public charter schools operating in Virginia.
- Murray High School, Albemarle County
- York River Academy, York County
- The Albemarle Community Public Charter School, Albemarle County
- Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, Richmond
Resources
- Equal or Fair? A Study of Revenues and Expenditures in American Charter Schools (PDF) – information from Education & the Public Interest Center (EPIC) and Education Policy Research Unit (EPRU)
- Charter Schools and Special Education: NASDSE Projects and Resources – information from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
- What Charter School Excellence Can Offer Virginia – information from the Lexington Institute
- Authorizing Charters: Helping Mom-and-Pops in Ohio – information from Education Next regarding Thomas B. Fordham Foundation’s experience as a charter-school authorizer in Ohio
- Charter School Legislation – HB 1390 & SB 737 (PPT)
- Public Charter School Application Review Process (PPT)
- How State Charter Laws Rank Against The New Model Public Charter School Law (PDF) – a report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
View VDOE's Expenses