Nevada Ed-Watch: SPCSA 7/28/23

State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA)

What is the SPCSA & what are they responsible for? Considered one of Nevada’s school districts, the SPCSA sponsors and oversees public charter schools. The Authority consists of seven appointed members responsible for overseeing educational and operational standards and holding sponsored schools accountable to the academic achievement of students.

How often does the SPCSA Board meet? The SPCSA typically meets once a month, generally on Fridays.

Click here for SPCSA meeting schedule and materials.

Can community members engage at SPCSA Board Meetings? While all meetings of the SPCSA are typically held publicly at the Nevada Department of Education building in Carson City and the Nevada Department of Education building in Las Vegas (1st floor boardroom), all meetings are now held virtually due to the COVID-19 crisis. Members of the public may view the meeting online via the link on the SPCSA’s Public Notice web page and the agenda and any supporting materials can be found here. Public comment may be given on any agenda item at the beginning of the meeting, or public comment regarding any matter that is SPCSA-related may be given at the conclusion of each Board meeting. Members of the community giving public comment can utilize the following conference call line: 1-312-584-2401; extension 3952176# with a time limit of three minutes per speaker. Alternatively, public comment may be submitted in writing to publiccomment@spcsa.nv.gov, and any such public comment received prior to the meeting will be provided to the Authority and included in the written minutes of the meeting.

Click here for a list of all SPCSA Members.

Click here for a list of all SPCSA sponsored schools.

Friday, July 28, 2023

State Public Charter School Authority Board Meeting

Access the meeting agenda and playback.

What happened at this meeting?

Public Comment

Public comment highlights included:

• Equipo Academy Open House invitation

SPCSA Executive Director’s Report

Highlights from the report include:

• 2024 Proposed Board Meeting Dates: Proposed dates can be found here.
• New Charter School Applications: 8 applications received, 2 withdrawals, 6 to be considered. 
• 2023-24 Site Evaluation Schedule: The draft schedule can be found here.
• Plan for Safe Return to In Person Learning: The Plan can be found here.
• Executive Order 2023-008: The Governor’s office has directed all agencies to begin the rule-making process. 
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Board Heard an Update on New Schools

• Eagle Charter Schools of Nevada – The school was approved for 306 students, with significant increases in marketing and partnership strategies. Monument signage has been installed, and facilities are due by August 1. The school needs to hire one additional teacher and then will be fully staffed. Enrollment and registration efforts are ongoing. Explore the presentation.
• Pinecrest Academy – Springs Campus – SPCSA walk through of the facility was held July 17, and teachers are setting up classrooms. Work is wrapping up on turf and the playground, and the school is waiting for final inspections on electrical, fire, and health permitting. Hiring has been completed, and recruitment efforts are ongoing. Explore the presentation.
• Southern Nevada Trades High School – The school has received its permit for temporary occupancy on July 14. The school is looking for a CTE teacher. There are 93 fully enrolled students, with an additional 15 awaiting documents and 18 additional leads. Recruitment efforts are ongoing. Explore the update.

Board Heard an Update on the Closure of Girls Empowerment Middle School (GEMS)

The closure process has begun and all students have been notified and are being assisted to transition to other institutions. Many students from GEMS are moving to Young Women’s Leadership Academy. All staff contracts have been honored and all payroll will be complete by July 31. All staff have found employment elsewhere.

Board Reviewed School Contract Amendment Applications

Futuro Academy was approved to reduce its enrollment cap for the 2023-24 school year from 522 to 450 students, and to reduce its enrollment cap for the remainder of the charter term. Review the recommendation memo.

Battle Born Academy’s item was removed from the agenda.

Board Adopted the Financial Performance Framework Results for Doral Academy of Northern Nevada

SPCSA staff conducts evaluations under its Financial Performance Framework to ensure a charter school’s financial performance. Doral Academy of Northern Nevada’s independent financial audit found “numerous material weaknesses.” After discussion, the results were adopted by the Board.

Explore the recommendation memo.

Board Reviewed Charter School Transportation Plans and Amendment Applications

Assembly Bill 400 of the 2023 legislative session appropriated $7 million per year to the SPCSA to fund student transportation to charter schools. SPCSA is prioritizing Title 1 Charter schools at this time, and all of these are Title 1 schools.

Futuro Academy’s transportation plan and charter contract amendment were approved.

Southern Nevada Trades High School’s transportation plan and subsequent charter contract amendment were approved. They are requesting $25,012 to implement their plan. Explore the recommendation memo.

Young Women’s Leadership Academy also submitted a transportation application and charter contract amendment. YWLA was approved for this plan.

Board Received an Update on the SPCSA’s Project AWARE Grant

Project AWARE is a five-year grant program focused on increased access to mental health professionals, clinical health specialists, and community partnerships. Highlights from the presentation include: 

• This is a pilot program in its second year of implementation. Currently four SPCSA campuses are implementing the program.
• Goals are to use a public health model to ensure students have access to appropriate behavior heath services; build an equitable partnership between all stakeholders; and promote healthy social and emotional development of school aged youth and prevent school violence.
• Evidence shows that schools with positive school climate and integrated social-emotional learning are more likely to achieve higher standards of school safety.
• The MTSS framework is rooted in evidence and is designed to leverage resources and initiatives already in place; it is not a separate program.
• The Tier 1 core program is provided universally, to all students, with Tier 2 (targeted group needs) and Tier 3 (intensive individual) needs available.
• In the first year, pilot schools showed slight increases in student-reported safety perceptions. 
• Goals for staff training were exceeded (63% are trained and the goal was 33%).

Explore the presentation.

Long-Range Calendar (next 3 months):

Agenda items over the next three SPCSA board meetings are anticipated to include:

• New charter school applications
• Academic Performance Framework
• Review of state assessment and school performance data
• Review of student enrollment and demographics
• Charter school renewal and resubmitted applications

Explore the calendar.

The next Meeting of the SPCSA Board is scheduled for Friday, August 25, 2023, @ 9:00 a.m.