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. Amended provisions in the Code of Virginia related to charter schools were passed by the 2012 General Assembly, with the changes becoming effective July 1, 2012.
- More about Virginia Public Charter School Law (PDF)
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 has aligned its procedures for reviewing charter school proposals pursuit to General Assembly actions in 2010 and 2012.
- Board of Education Charter School Committee schedule and agendas
- Local School Board Actions on Charter Applications
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. This report is incorporated into the board's Annual Report on the Condition and Needs of Public Schools in Virginia.
Past Reports:
| 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
- The Albemarle Community Public Charter School, Albemarle County
- York River Academy, York County
- Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, Richmond
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