Two new organizations have applied to start charter schools in West Virginia in the next two years.
The Workforce Initiative for Nurses (WIN) Academy proposes to offer an accelerated nursing program option to up to 30 high school students in the ten-county region served by Bridgevalley Community and Technical College. The application describes the charter school as an initiative of Bridgevalley President Casey Sachs.
The focus will be on high school seniors. Allowing participants to complete the first year of an associate-level registered nurse program.
“If successful, the WIN Academy will help fewer young students in their 20s complete their nursing programs, helping the large workforce shortage of registered nurses — a high-demand/high-paying field in West Virginia,” the organization wrote in its application.
MECCA hopes to open a business education center for middle and high school students in Berkeley County with a focus on leadership, entrepreneurship and finance. The application proposes to start about 250 seventh- and eighth-graders in the fall of 2024. Over time, the school could grow to 850 students through 12th grade.
The name stands for MBEF College and Career Academies. “MBEF,” in turn, stands for Mentoring by Example Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with youth.
“MBLI believes that all students can reach their full potential and provides opportunities for students to pursue their passion for business and entrepreneurship while developing leadership skills,” the organization wrote in its application.
The deadline for new applicants to the West Virginia Board of Professional Charter Schools was this week.
“It’s great to have hope for comprehensive and special charter schools in West Virginia,” said board chairman Adam Kissel.
“I’d like to see a variety of proven or new curriculum models, including classical schools, that fit the needs and preferences of families, students and communities of all sizes across the state.”
If both new applicants are approved, West Virginia’s total number of approved charter schools will increase to seven, he said.
“The growth rate seems to be tracking the legislature’s limit of 10 charters in the first three years,” Kissel said.
West Virginia does not yet have any charter schools after passing a state law that would allow it in 2019. The first schools opened for students in the past few weeks.
West Virginia Academy in Morgantown started the school year a few weeks ago with 470 students.
Eastern Panhandle Preparatory Academy had 330 students enrolled as of late last week.
West Virginia Virtual Academy has 261 students enrolled.
Virtual Prep Academy has 192 enrollments.
The fifth Nitro Prep Academy, which was approved to open this year, was delayed this year and plans to open next year instead.
The first charter schools took root when a legal challenge to the system’s constitutionality went to the state Supreme Court.
“I don’t think West Virginia has fully realized the potential of charter schools to solve some of our state’s biggest problems,” said Garrett Ballengi, executive director of the Cardinal Institute, which supports various “school choice” initiatives in the state. West Virginia.
“Take, for example, the proposed nursing-focused charter school in the Kanawha Valley. When you go up and address issues like the nursing shortage, it’s better for taxpayers, the state and local communities. Once West Virginians experience educational choice, they’re overwhelmed with charter schools and educational options.” I expect we will continue to make progress, which is great for children and families.
