The Ed-Watch series is designed to increase access to information on what decisions are being made regarding public education in Clark County and Nevada.
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 one 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, June 25, 2021
State Public Charter School Authority Special Board Meeting
Click here to see the meeting agenda
What happened at this meeting?
Members of the public provided comment regarding:
- Support for full return to in-person school for the 2021-2022 school year.
SPCSA Executive Directors’ and SPCSA Staff Report:
Report highlights:
- Initiatives Related to Serving All Students Equitably: The board has scheduled several equity & diversity train-the-trainer trainings for all schools made possible from the Project Aware grant. The board recommends that each school has several members of their staff in this training.
- Renewal terms update: Five schools are up to renew their charter contracts this year.
- Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas amendment conditions related to the approval to add a seventh campus – there is a minor delay for Coal Academy facilities. The school is on track for their facility for SY22-23.
- Nevada Department of Education request to waive the accountability, school identification, and related reporting requirements for the 2020-2021 school year.
Board Approved COVID-19 Mitigation Measures for 2021-22 School Year
Under SPCSA’s COVID-19 guidance, schools are required to maintain a minimum of three feet social distancing for students and six feet social distancing for adults at SPCSA-sponsored schools, including within school buildings, on school grounds, and within school transportation vehicles for summer 2021 programming. The guidelines will also allow schools located in counties with less restrictive social distancing guidance to seek an exemption from the Executive Director. The board approved the SPCSA mitigation measures for the 2021-22 school year.
Click here to read the full COVID-19 update.
Board Heard Approved Safe Return to In-Person Instruction Plan
The SPCSA is eligible to receive federal funding through the
American Rescue Plan Act. As a condition for funding, the SPCSA must, within 30 days of receiving the ARP ESSER allocation, develop and post a plan for the “safe return of in-person instruction and continuity of services.” Executive Director Feiden presented the background, methodology, and timeline for finalizing the Plan for the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction, and the incorporation for individual school plans.
Click here to read the full Plan for the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction.
Board Approved Charter Amendments for Current Schools
The Authority approved amendments to four schools’ charter contracts:
- Explore Academy will expand its grade level sizes to adhere to its original enrollment projection five-year plan. Additionally, Explore remain at its current facility, located at 4660 N. Rancho, through the fall semester of the upcoming school year. Explore Academy has entered into a contract with TEACH Las Vegas to co-locate and share their facility for the 2021-22 school year.
Click here to see the amendment summary and SPCSA recommendation documents
- Pinecrest Academy can increase enrollment at the Cadence, Sloan Canyon and Inspirada campuses beyond the current enrollment caps. The amendment contemplates a net addition of approximately 900 seats through FY26 across these three campuses. SPCSA staff recommends the board to approve Pinecrest Academy’s request with reluctance, given that Pinecrest is willing to work closely with the SPCSA on enrollment growth in the four school years. The approved Pinecrest Academy amendments.
Click here to see the amendment summary and SPCSA recommendation documents
- Amplus Academy made the following amendments to its charter contract to reconfigure the Rainbow Campus from grades K – 3 to grades K – 5 beginning in the 2021 – 22 school year, implement a Dual Credit programs at the high school, and transition from half-day Kindergarten to full-day for the 2021-2022 school year.
Click here to see the amendment summary and SPCSA recommendation documents
- Las Vegas Collegiate will defer its opening until the 2022-2023 school year due to challenges in finding a facility to house the program. The amendment application provides a list of 14 viable facility options and potential sites for the school to locate beginning in the 2022 – 23 school year. Las Vegas Collegiate will also expand to grades K-2 for the 2022-23 school year, under the same approved enrollment cap of 162 students.
Click here to see the amendment summary and SPCSA recommendation documents.
Board Heard Updates From Recently Approved Charter Schools
- TEACH Las Vegas school leadership shared that they have entered into a formal agreement with Explore Academy to share a facility, and an updated on reduced enrollment numbers for the SY21-22. This update is not an action item.
Click here to see the full TEACH Las Vegas update.
- Sage Collegiate will defer the opening until the 2022 – 23 school year, citing low enrollment as a result of challenges finalizing a facility. The board approved the amendment, under the condition that the SPCSA receive monthly updates regarding progress towards a final facility. Additionally, the school must provide the Authority with evidence that real estate closing has occurred or that the school has entered into a lease agreement on or before January 1, 2022.
Click here to see the amendment summary and SPCSA recommendation.
Board Approved Updates to SPCSA’s Performance Framework Revisions
The SPCSA’s Performance Framework includes and Academic, Financial, and Organizational component. Revisions to the Financial Framework include shifting student enrollment forecasting to enrollment variance, in order to focus on fiscal health rather than forecasting ability.
Click here for SPCSA’s recommendation for changes to the financial framework.
Additionally, the board approved updates to the Organizational Framework, including compliance related to receiving sub-grants, revisions to board member training requirements, annual Education Management Organization (EMO) review, review of a Restorative Discipline Plan.
Click here for SPCSA’s recommendations for changes to the Organizational Framework.
Board Heard Report on Site Evaluations
SPCSA staff provided the Authority with an update regarding site evaluations conducted during the 2020-2021 school year. All schools with a charter contract in years 1, 3, or 5 were evaluated as scheduled in a virtual format, except 3 which were conducted in a hybrid format. There were a total of 42 site evaluations conducted during the 2020-21 school year. All reports are available at SPCSA’s website for public access.
Click here for the SPCSA’s presentation regarding Site Evaluations.
Board heard recommendations for SPCSA Board Elections
Members of the Board nominate and vote unanimously for current chair Melissa Mackedon to continue as the board chair. Members of the Board nominate and vote unanimously for Member Multon as Vice Chair.
Board Heard Updates on 2021 Legislative Session
SPCSA staff provided updates on 2021 Legislative Session bills that affect the Authority. The Education Bills listed below imposes additional reporting or policy requirements for schools in the SPCSA. Also note that many, if not all, of these bills are effective for the 2021-2022 school year. Click here for the memo including a full list of Education Bills presented by SPCSA staff.
- Assembly Bill 68 – Legislation by the SPCSA regarding changes to charter school application periods, charter contracts, and grade level requirements. Director Fieden presented comments on this bill at the March 18th hearing to the Assembly of Education. The bill was amended and recommended to pass as amended.
- Assembly Bill 109 – Removes an existing statute that allows for up to 30% of charter school teachers to be unlicensed.
- Assembly Bill 253 – Revises Nevada’s Open Meeting Law.
- Assembly Bill 235 – Requires charter schools to provide information on the Nevada College KickStart Program to the parents or guardians of all students in grades 4-12.
- Assembly Bill 419 – Governance, Charter School “Posting” and Reporting Requirements, Charter School Sponsor Reporting Requirements, and New Charter School Applications and Expansion Requests
- Assembly Bill 420 – Revises the definition of “Educational Management Organization” (EMO).
- Senate Bill 172 – Dual Credit Courses
- Senate Bill 173 – Summer School for the 2020-2021 School Yea
- Senate Bill 215 – Provisions related to distance education.
- Senate Bill 363 – Reporting Requirements Related to Charter Schools that Contract with Educational Management Organizations
- Senate Bill 439 – Implements Nevada’s Pupil Centered Funding Plan.
- Senate Bill 463 – Charter School Special Appropriation for Transition to Pupil Centered Funding Plan.
Long-Range Calendar Update
Governance standards will come before the board in July, and new board members will start in July.
Click here to see the long range calendar.
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