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? The SPCSA sponsors and oversees public charter schools across the State of Nevada. The Authority consists of nine 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? SPCSA members meet once monthly– on Fridays.
Click here for SPCSA meeting schedule and materials.
Can community members engage at SPCSA Board Meetings? All meetings are 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). Members of the public are invited to attend at either location. A time for public comment is provided at the conclusion of each agenda item and at the conclusion of each Board meeting. There is a time limit of three minutes per speaker. Members of the community providing testimony must fill out a visitor card, available on-site the day of the meeting.
Alternatively, public comment may be submitted in writing at 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, August 14, 2020
State Public Charter School Authority Board Meeting
Click here to see the meeting agenda
What happened at this meeting?
Members of the public provided comment regarding:
- Dissatisfaction with the SPCSA Reopening Plan Requirements which would require most SPCSA approved charter schools to open with distance learning only.
Board Approved Reopening Plan Requirements and In-Person Learning for 2020-2021 School Year (6-3)
SPCSA board members heard from SPCSA Executive Director Feiden on the proposed school opening requirements related to in-person learning for the 2020-2021 school year.
The recommendations from SPCSA staff can be found at SPCSA Recommendation to Issue COVID-19 In-Person Learning Guidance. This recommendation was in follow-up to Recommendation and Guidance for School Re-Opening and based on Road to Recovery: Moving to a New Normal from the Governor and Nevada Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Update. There were some areas of contention, including whether the guidance should be a recommendation or a requirement.
A motion was made to approve the guidance as a recommendation rather than a requirement. This motion failed 5 to 4.
The board moved to approve the guidance as a requirement, with the addition of a fast-response process for SPCSA to consider an appeal by schools.
Board Heard Update on Open Meeting Law
Governor Sisolak’s Emergency Directive 029 extended Nevada’s State of Emergency status. The extension provides allowance for public meetings, including the SPCSA board, to continue to occur virtually.
Sign up to receive a notification when a new Ed-Watch post is published: