                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

OBJECTIVES; DEFINITIONS (§ 22.1-212.5)

A. In order to (i) stimulate the development of innovative programs within
public education; (ii) provide opportunities for innovative instruction and
assessment; (iii) provide parents and students with more options within their
school divisions; (iv) provide teachers with a vehicle for establishing schools
with alternative innovative instruction and school scheduling, management and
structure; (v) encourage the use of performance-based educational programs; (vi)
establish high standards for both teachers and administrators; and (vii) develop
models for replication in other public schools, public charter schools may be
established in Virginia as provided in this article.

B. As used in this article:
			&#8220;At-risk pupil&#8221; means a student having a physical, emotional,
intellectual, socioeconomic, or cultural risk factor, as defined in Board of
Education criteria, which research indicates may negatively influence
educational success.
			&#8220;Public charter school&#8221; means a public, nonreligious, or
non-home-based alternative school located within a public school division. A
public charter school may be created as a new public school or through the
conversion of all or part of an existing public school; however, no public
charter school shall be established through the conversion of a private school
or a nonpublic home-based educational program. A charter school for at-risk
pupils may be established as a residential school.
			&#8220;Regional public charter school&#8221; means a public charter school
operated by two or more school boards and chartered directly by the
participating school boards.

HISTORY: 1998, cc. 748, 890; 2000, cc. 631, 712, 1028; 2004, c. 530; 2005, c.
928.