Tag: charter applications

Nevada Ed Watch: 5/20/2022

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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 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, May 20, 2022
State Public Charter School Authority Board Meeting
Access the meeting agenda and playback.

What happened at this meeting? 

Public comment 

Members of the public shared comments regarding retention of students of color and additional staff training as well as matters of student safety and substance use at Legacy Traditional School.

SPCSA Charter School Governing Body Governance Standards.

The board will return to this agenda item during the June 27 meeting.

Explore the SPCSA Governance Standards.

SPCSA Executive Director’s Report

Highlights from the report include:

  • Initiatives Related to Serving All Students Equitably: Last month the Authority voted to require certain schools to submit recruitment and enrollment plans by September 30, 2022.  The plans must include specific strategies aimed at serving a student population representative of the school community, particularly those qualifying for free and reduced lunch. SPCSA staff issued guidance to the selected schools for developing their plans, with a suggested process that includes a data review, root cause analysis, and identification of strategies. Three optional virtual working sessions will be offered to support the schools with this process.
  • COVID-19 Update: Governor Sisolak formally ended the COVID-19 State of Emergency effective Friday, March 20. All SPCSA-sponsored schools, except those approved as fully distance learning schools, will return to in-person learning. Emergency substitutes will be phased out in Washoe and Clark Counties for the 2022-23 school year but will be permitted in rural communities. The provision that allows a registered nurse to oversee the COVID-19 testing lab for SPCSA schools will expire with the State of Emergency. The SPCSA is looking for a certified director with the approved credentials to continue to keep the lab open. If they are unable to hire one, SPCSA staff will transition schools to other COVID testing programs. The Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan will remain in place through September 30, 2023.
  • New Charter School Applications: Charter school applications are due between April 15-30 each year. This year, five applicants applied, including four schools in Clark County: Mind Your Books (K-8), Rooted School (9-12), Southern Nevada Trades High School (9-12) and The Village High School (9-12). The fifth school, Method Schools of NV, withdrew their application. The next step will include external review of the applications with recommendations brought to the Authority in August. Full applications are posted on the SPCSA website and are open for public comment. One member of the Authority requested first year enrollment for the new schools, which will be available in the posted applications’ enrollment tables.
  • 2022 Sponsor Feedback Survey: Last week, SPCSA launched its annual sponsor feedback survey to SPCSA-sponsored charter school leaders, which measures dimensions such as communications with SPCSA staff, the authorizing functions, and school and grant administration support functions. The survey will remain open for one month. The results will be shared at an upcoming meeting. Thus far, 11 respondents have taken the survey.
  • Update on New Schools Opening in Fall 2022: 
    • Battle Born Academy will open with 240 students in grades K, 1, 5 and 6.  The Authority approved the school’s temporary location. With necessary modifications on track, the certificate of occupancy is expected by July 8, 2022. 
    • Sage Collegiate will open with 224 students in grades K-5. Work is being completed on the facility, but construction timelines are tight, so the school is working on contingency plans. 
    • PilotED – Cactus Park Elementary will open with 351 in grades K-4. The school is working to close the gap in enrollment paperwork.  Work is being completed on the facility, but construction timelines are tight, so the school is working on contingency plans. 
    • Young Women’s Leadership Academy will open with a planned enrollment of 150 across grades 6-9. 
    • Strong Start Academy is opening K-2 with 180 students. Through a partnership with the City of Las Vegas, the school will open in the City’s three Pre-K centers and then to partner with the City to transition to a single site facility long term. 

      Each school is on track to open in Fall 2022. In early June, enrollment audits will be conducted, which will result in initial funding.  Per pupil funding will be reconciled for schools in November.  Additionally, from a facility perspective, schools will be required to provide evidence of temporary or permanent certificate of occupancy after which SPCSA staff will perform walkthroughs of the facilities.

Charter School Contract Amendment Applications

Discovery Charter School requested a good cause exemption and received approval to acquire the current facility at Hillpoint Campus to accommodate a waitlist exceeding 220 students.

Explore Discovery Charter School’s good cause exemption request and charter amendment application.

Eagle Charter School was approved for a new location at 2025 East Sahara, which is located in the previously approved zip code of 89104. The school anticipates the majority of enrollment to come from this zip code. A Restaurant Depot is currently located in the facility. 

Explore Eagle Charter School’s good cause exemption request and charter amendment application. 

Additional materials including each school’s budget and SPCSA recommendation memo can be found here.

Board Approved Revolving Loan Application for Sage Collegiate

Sage Collegiate provided SPCSA staff with a business plan and budget which indicated they would have sufficient funds to make the repayments. Based on this analysis, SPCSA staff recommended approval of the loan, according to repayment terms in the memo.   

Explore the Sage Collegiate recommendation memo and revolving loan request.

Board Approved Good Cause Exemption for Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy Nevada

The board approved PTAA Nevada’s request for a good cause exemption to submit a new charter school application outside of the usual application window. Recent revisions to administrative code NAC 388A.260 changed the deadlines for new charter applications from two charter application windows to a single window in April of each year.  The code also gives the SPCSA authority to accept an application outside of the annual window upon request and for good cause.

PTAA would submit notice of intent by May 30, 2022, and would then submit an application toward the end of August 2022, which would come to the Authority for approval in December 2022.  Staff found good cause to approve submission outside of the April window, also noting that submitting next April would generate approval too late to open in Fall 2023 as planned.  

The board also heard updates on ongoing litigation. PTAA filed two lawsuits against the Authority – one of which will be dismissed, and no action will be taken on the second in the next 30 days.

Members of the board shared thoughts on the school’s decision to move forward with a new application as well as the need for both the school and the Authority to reflect on their own process and that the process be balanced on both sides. 

Explore the PTAA recommendation memo and request for good cause exemption.

Long-Range Calendar (next 3 months):

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

  • Calendar updates due to virtual meetings – the June meeting will be on Monday, June 27 and the August meeting will be on Monday, August 29.
  • Amendment applications on the June meeting agenda.

Explore the long-range calendar.

The next Meeting of the SPCSA Board is scheduled for June 27, 2022 @ 9:00 am. 

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Nevada Ed-Watch 4/23/201

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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, April 23, 2021

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:

  • A request for the Authority to exercise their influence to end the mask-wearing mandate.

SPCSA Executive Directors’ and SPCSA Staff Report:

  • COVID-19 Update
    • On April 13th, Governor Sisolak released Directive 044 that outlines protocols for the safe return to work and school. Director Feiden explained how the Governor’s directive will affect public charter schools and the Authority.

Click here for Governor’s Directive 044.
Click here to read Director 044 updates.

  • Initiatives Related to Serving All Students Equitably
    • The SPCSA has provided school accountability technical assistance training and informational sessions for schools on the Project Aware grant. The Project Aware technical assistance working group will plan trainings focusing on topics including youth mental health, restorative justice, and the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for school sites.
  • Update on Notice of Intent
    • In April 2021, the SPCSA collected 29 Notices of Intent to apply to launch a public charter school in Nevada, and schools intending to apply were invited to a pre-application training. Schools must submit an application by July, 15th 2021.

Board Approved COVID-19 Guidance for Schools

Under SPCSA’s COVID-19 guidance, schools are required to maintain a minimum of 3 feet social distancing for students and 6 feet social distancing for adults at SPCSA-sponsored schools, including within school buildings, on school grounds, and within school transportation vehicles for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. 

Large gatherings of 250 people or more, which require a Large Gathering Plan pursuant to Directive 044, allow schools to establish any capacity limits as an exception. The guidance also allows schools to continue with their existing sanitation protocols as determined at the school level and to make adjustments in line with any updated public health guidance.

Click here to read the full COVID-19 update.

Board Heard Overview on Federal Emergency Grant Funding

SPCSA is allocated funds under the following funding programs:

  • $4.6 million in ESSER I funding — Schools received $95.24 for each student qualifying for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch (FRL) and $85.17 for each student not qualifying for FRL.
  • Approximately $888,000 in GEER I funding.
  • Approximately $2.9 million under Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), commonly referred to as AB3.
  • $23.8 million from Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act funds, or ESSER II — Schools were allocated funding based on a straight per-pupil allocation with additional weights on enrollment as follows: 30% for FRL, 110% for IEP, and 50% for ELL.
  • Approximately $53.4 million through the American Recovery Plan, or ARP ESSER, which was signed into law on March 11, 2021 and provides several types of funding for K-12 Education.
  • The second round of GEER funding was allocated to Governors for the same purposes and with the same flexibility as the first round of funding. The SPCSA has not received any information about allocations of the second round of GEER funding, or GEER II.

Click here to read the full overview of Federal Emergency Funding.

Board Heard Public Comment from Charter School Leaders on Federal Grant Funding

School leaders from Equipo Academy, Futuro Academy, and Doral Academy shared presentations on how the schools are utilizing received funding to support students and families. School leaders also requested that SPCSA’s current ESSER II allocation methodology be reevaluated, stating concerns that Title 1 schools with a high percentage of FRL and/or high-needs students will be funded inequitably compared to CCSD schools. 

The SPCSA board recommended that SPCSA staff create a follow-up comparison that shows allocation figures of CCSD in comparison to SPCSA allocation figures.

Board Heard Presentation on the Proposed Plan For The Safe Return to In-Person Instruction

Under the SPCSA’s proposed Plan for the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction, each charter school is required to have a re-opening plan pursuant to Emergency Directive 022. As documented in the proposed plan, SCPSA will approach a safe return to in-person instruction based on the following principles:

  • Clear Guardrails and Oversight to continue establishing minimum standards, where appropriate, and conducting compliance oversight of emergency directives
  • Flexibility and Support that honors school-level decision-making while providing support
  • Consistent Communication for information sharing between the SPCSA and schools

Pursuant to the NDE’s Framework for a Safe, Efficient, and Equitable Return to School Buildings as well as the U.S. Department of Education’s ED COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs, the plan also addresses five key areas of focus:

  • Communicating with Schools and Stakeholders
  • Establishing a Safe Learning Environment
  • Meeting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students
  • Accelerating learning
  • Charter School Re-Opening Plans

Click here to read the full SPCSA Plan For The Safe Return to In-Person Instruction.

Board Approved Charter School Contract Amendments

The board approved two charter school contract amendments:

  • Nevada State High School was approved to defer the opening of Campus #8 under the Flagship contract to the 2022–23 school year and to be located at 4280 W. Craig Road, North Las Vegas, NV 89031. 

Click here to read the full SPCSA recommendation memo for Nevada State High School.

  • Girls Athletic Leadership School (GALS)’s was approved to relocate its campus to a new address and to reduce the enrollment cap from 270 to 160 students for the 2021-22 school year.

Click here to read the full SPCSA recommendation memo for GALS.

Board Approved Revolving Loan Applications for New Charter Schools 

The board approved revolving loan applications for three new charter schools that are planned to open in the Fall of 2021: TEACH Las Vegas, Sage Collegiate, and Las Vegas Collegiate. SPCSA shared feedback about the applications, including that the applications were compelling and complete, and that the schools demonstrated a strong plan for repayment of the loan and a need for additional start-up cash.

Click here to read the full SPCSA recommendation memo for Teach Las Vegas.
Click here to read the full SPCSA recommendation memo for Sage Collegiate.
Click here to read the full SPCSA recommendation memo Las Vegas Collegiate. 

Board Approved New Charter School Application

The board approved Battle Born Academy to open in August 2022. 

Click here to read the full SPCSA recommendation memo for Battle Born Academy.

Board Heard Updates on 2021 Legislative Session

SPCSA General Counsel Ryan Herrick provided updates on education bills that the Authority is following:

  • Assembly Bill 68 – AB-68 introduces 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 – AB-109 removes an existing statute that allows for up to 30% of charter school teachers to be unlicensed. 
  • Assembly Bill 419 – AB-419 adds governance training requirements for charter school boards and the SPCSA board; requires certain reporting by charter schools that contract with Educational Management Organizations (EMOs); requires the SPCSA to report to the Interim Education Committee on certain items. 
  • Senate Bill 126 – SB-126 requires libraries and librarians in charter schools. 
  • Senate Bill 173 – SB-173 directs emergency federal funding to summer school in order to address student learning loss. Districts and charter schools may opt-in to the program. 
  • Senate Bill 215 – SB-215 changes provisions related to distance education.
  • Senate Bill 363 – SB-363 financial reporting related to funds paid to Educational Management Organizations (EMOs).

Click here to view SPCSA’s 2021 legislative updates.

Long-Range Calendar Update

New charter applications will be brought to the May board meeting and updates on American Recovery Funding will be included in an upcoming agenda.

Click here to see the long range calendar.

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Nevada Ed-Watch 1/22/21

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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, January 22, 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: 

  • Support for Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy (PTAA) charter approval citing the importance of the impact of PTAA in the community.

SPCSA Executive Directors’ and SPCSA Staff Report:

Report highlights:

  • In-Person Learning Update
    • Director Feiden does not currently anticipate any changes to the in-person learning guidance. SPCSA staff is committed to bringing students back to school buildings safely and will continue to monitor transmission rates in the state, as well as any changes in the current Statewide Pause. Should the circumstances improve in the coming month, staff anticipate reviewing the current in-person learning guidance and bringing any recommended changes to the February 26 meeting of the SPCSA Board. Click here to read the full statement.
  • COVID -19 Vaccine Update
    • The Authority has worked with the Department of Health and Human Services to implement school testing sites. The Authority is working with multiple agencies to ensure educators know how to sign up for vaccines in each county. Vaccine distribution for educators is occurring in most Nevada counties, however, Clark County School District (CCSD) is experiencing challenges. Vaccine pre-registration for CCSD educators will begin on January 25th.  Click here to read the full statement.
  • Initiatives Related to Serving All Students Equitably
    • The SPCSA has made progress towards equity initiatives. The Authority has looked into school data on demographics of students served and will continue to monitor progress towards serving diverse communities. The Authority has surveyed schools on how they are providing diversity and inclusion training to their staff. Of those surveyed, 90% of respondents indicated an interest in diversity and inclusion professional development training for their staff and board leadership teams. The remaining 10% of respondents indicated that they were already receiving training. The Authority is looking into providing diversity and inclusion training in Spring or Summer 2021 and to utilize federal funding.
  • The Nevada Department of Education’s (NDE) Proposed COVID-19 State Plan Addendum to Nevada’s ESEA Consolidated State Plan for the 2020-2021 School Year
    • NDE proposes that the Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) be “suspended” for the 2020-2021 school year, meaning they are requesting that no new star ratings be issued for the 2020-2021 school year. Instead, NDE proposes that star ratings continue to carry over from the 2018-2019 school year, the last school year that new star ratings were issued. The NDE is also proposing a pause on calculating chronic absenteeism. The Authority has developed a memo in response to the NDE’s proposal to the federal government. Board members requested clarification on the NDE’s decision to waive the chronic absenteeism count. Click here to see the NDE’s proposal. 
  • Explore Academy Facility Update
    • The Authority has approved the building site acquired by Explore Academy and will continue to work with Explore Academy to prepare for the 2021-2022 school year.
  • Update on 2020-2021 Site Evaluations
    • The Authority has 23 more site evaluations scheduled through the end of this academic year. 

Board Approved SPCSA Financial Performance Framework Recommendations 

The Financial Performance Framework is used to determine if a school is financially viable and to inform high-stakes decisions. SPCSA staff presented information on the Financial Performance Framework indicators and how each indicator affects ratings. SPCSA staff also presented ratings for the 2019-20 school year and shared recommendations for actions to be taken, including recommendations to issue Notices of Concern to Discovery Charter School, Nevada Virtual Academy, and Quest Preparatory Academy. SPCSA staff recognized that the pandemic has created considerable challenges for schools and incorporated into their considerations for recommendations. SPCSA staff also acknowledged that these schools are working to make a stronger effort in financial performance and commended their efforts.

Some schools provided additional comments in regards to the recommendations. Highlights include: 

  • Discovery Charter School shared after receivership they inherited $367,000 in debt which was paid in full in June 2020. They also shared that their Current debt-to-asset ratio is progressing on target. 
  • Nevada Virtual Academy shared their commitment to work with the Authority to improve their debt-to-asset ratio and finances.
  • Quest Preparatory Academy shared their commitment to work with the Authority to improve their finances.
  • Honors Academy of Literature shared that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness has enabled them to improve on their status and will put them on track to address the Authority’s concerns.
  • Legacy Traditional Schools commented that bond assets should be taken into consideration when measuring the debt-to-asset ratio.
  • Signature Preparatory Academy commented on the status of their lease payment bond issue and shared that an increase in enrollment numbers will positively affect the trajectory of their financial standing. 

The board unanimously approved a motion to:

  • Adopt the Financial Framework results for SY2020-21 with exceptions to enrollment;
  • Place Discovery Charter School, Nevada Virtual Academy, and Quest Preparatory Academy on Notice of Concern under the Financial Framework results for SY20-21, and to create a financial improvement plan for these schools. 
  • Create targeted remediation plans for SY21-22 for  Doral Academy of Northern Nevada, Honors Academy of Literature, Legacy Traditional Schools, and Signature Preparatory Academy.

Click here to see the full recommendation memo. 

Board Approved Charter School Contract Amendments

SPCSA staff presented recommendations related to charter school contract amendment applications on the following schools:

  • Sports Leadership and Management Academy (SLAM) – The board approved SLAM Academy’s proposal to expand the school to include K-5 grade levels. The Authority found that the SLAM proposal qualifies with the Academic and Demographic Needs Assessment and recommended to the Board to conditionally approve the proposal subject to improvement on items of concern in pre-opening requirements. Click here to see the full memo.
  • Las Vegas Collegiate – The board approved a request by Las Vegas Collegiate Charter School to cap enrollment to 162 students, and to grant the school a Good Cause Exemption to request a temporary facility within 1.5 miles of the 89106 zip code for the 2021-2022 school year only. Click here to see the full memo. 

Board Approved Staff Recommendations for Resubmitted New Charter School Applications

  • Pioneer Technology & Art Academy (PTAA) Nevada – Denied (5-3)
    •  SPCSA staff gave an overview of PTAA’s initial application which did not meet the standard in five out of five categories according to the Authority’s application evaluation rubric. PTAA’s resubmitted application met the standard in two out of the five categories. SPCSA staff made the recommendation to deny the resubmission based on their finding that the application does not meet the requirements contained in NRS 388A.249(3). Click here to see the full recommendation. SPCSA staff shared concerns regarding the Academic Model of the high school. Board members discussed the need to ensure that school plans are articulated in their application and whether this application could be reconsidered after additional progress has been made to adjust PTAA to serve students K-8. Some board members were concerned about the precedent this would set around following the SPCSA application policy. Click here to see the resubmitted application.
  • Eagle Charter Schools of Nevada – Approved
    •  SPCSA Staff provided an overview of the initial application which did not meet the standard according to the Authorities Rubric in four out of five categories. Eagle Charter Schools of Nevada resubmission met the standard in four out of five categories. Staff made the recommendation to approve the resubmission with conditions, based on their finding that the applicant now meets the requirements contained in NRS 388A.249(3). Click here to see the full recommendation. Board members discussed the need to ensure that Eagle Charter Schools of Nevada has the ability to meet the conditions set forth. Staff from Eagle Charter Schools of Nevada shared they are aligned with conditions set forth and are prepared to apply for a deferral to the 2022 school year if the conditions are not met. Click here to see the resubmitted application.

Board Heard Annual Review of SPCSA-Sponsored Schools

Director Feiden shared the State of the SPCSA, which is used as a starting point for communication with the public. Highlights include:

  • The SPCSA sponsors  67 schools located across five counties, representing the third-largest student population in the state.
  • Throughought the pandemic, the SPCSA has supported sponsored schools to ensure every student had access to a device and internet in order to engage in distance learning.
  • SPCSA supported reported approximately 98% daily attendance and increases in graduation rates, even during the pandemic. SPCSA has adopted an academic performance framework that takes into consideration school star ratings, performance ratings, and enrollment diversity comparison to local school districts and nearby schools. 
  • SPCSA Title I schools are more likely to be 4- or 5-star schools than State average. Staff noted that the implementation of the Needs Assessment, alongside adjustments to the new school application process, has provided additional focus on serving more diverse student populations.

Click here to view the presentation.

Board Approved 2021 Academic and Demographic Needs Assessment

The Academic and Demographic Needs Assessment is updated annually by staff. Due to the academic reporting requirements impacted by the pandemic, only 11th grade ACT academic data was updated. However, enrollment data and demographic data was updated. Additional updates include a summary of the implementation of the needs assessment and district summaries.

Click here to view the report.

Board Heard School Pre-Opening Process

SPCSA staff shared the Pre-Opening Readiness Process and Checklist which includes the process and resources for SPCSA sponsored schools to open. The purpose of this document is to provide transparency to schools, manage school expectations, and outline what schools are responsible for in order to open properly and on time.

Click here to view the Pre-Opening Readiness Process and Checklist.

Board Approved the Annual Report to Nevada’s Department of Education

Director Feiden shared the expectations for the report include a list of schools, SPCSA strategic vision, and an outline of federal grant dollars passed through to SPCSA sponsored schools.

Click here to view the report.

Board Heard 2021 Legislative Session Updates

SPCSA staff shared an overview of education-related bills and bill drafts for the upcoming legislative session.  Additionally, Director Feiden shared the proposal outlined by the Governor to implement the new Pupil Centered Funding Formula in two phases. The authority will continue to work in partnership with the Nevada Department of Education as the funding formula continues to be developed and implemented. 

Click here to view the bill/bill draft request overview.

Long-Range Calendar
Director Feiden presented additions to the long-range calendar including legislative session dates, TEACH’s application resubmission in February, and the next round of application submissions in April/May.

Click here to see the long-range calendar.

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Nevada Ed-Watch 1/31/20

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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, January 31, 2020
State Public Charter School Authority Board Meeting

Click here to see the meeting agenda 

What happened at this meeting? 

SPCSA Executive Director’s Report: 

Report Highlights: 

  • Seven schools submitted applications for authorization in the 2019 Summer cycle. Two schools were approved. Five schools were denied, but resubmitted their applications. 
  • One school submitted an application for authorization in the 2020 Winter cycle. 
  • The SPCSA Executive Director presented to the Legislative Committee on Education about the SPCSA’s Needs Assessment, Growth Management Plan, and Strategic Plan. The committee will provide written feedback to the SPCSA regarding the plans.
  • The SPCSA is launching a “secret shopper” style project to enhance oversight of special education compliance through random, unannounced phone calls to schools. Callers will represent themselves as parents of students with disabilities. 

Board Approved the Annual Report for the Nevada Department of Education

The annual SPCSA report, required by statute, includes updates on the academic performance data for each SPCSA-sponsored school, organizational and financial performance frameworks, and federal funds disbursed to SPCSA-sponsored schools. 

Click here to see the annual report. 

Board Approved the Authorization of Girls Athletic Leadership School (G.A.L.S) 

The board approved staff recommendations to authorize G.A.L.S with conditions. The G.A.L.S application returned to the SPCSA board through an appeal process outlined in the document linked below. G.A.L.S will serve 6th grade students for the 2020-2021 school year, and grow into a full 6-8th grade school by the 2022-2023 school year.  

Click here to see the staff recommendation and conditions. 

Board Approved Four (4) Charter School Renewals

The board approved the renewal of the 4 schools listed below. Click each school name to see the recommendation memo provided by SPCSA staff.

Board Heard an Update on Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada 

SPCSA staff members have been working closely with the Pinecrest team on efforts to serve a student population that is reflective of the community. SPCSA staff and members of the Pinecrest team shared updates on establishing a weighted lottery, securing a free lunch program, and launching targeted marketing and outreach for student enrollment. The school team is also working out the details related to transportation. It was noted that family enrollment can be determined by access to transportation. 

Board Heard a Presentation Overview of SPCSA-Sponsored Charter Schools

SPCSA staff presented an overview of SPCSA-sponsored public charter schools. The presentation included a summary of Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) results, graduation rates, and demographic information as compared to statewide and school district data.

Click here to see the presentation.

The Board Discussed Updates to the Board Calendar

Schools that received a Notice of Breach will present updates to the board during the March meeting. Performance data for Beacon Academy under the Alternative Performance Framework will also be available in March.

Board Approved Staff Recommendation to Deny Renewal of Nevada Connections Academy Middle and High School Charter Contract (4-1) 

Nevada Connections Academy (NCA) is an online school currently serving students in grades K-12. When assessing NCA’s application for renewal, SPCSA staff considered the academic, organizational and financial performance of the school– putting the largest weight on the academic performance, as required in statute. In the past three years, the elementary and high school programs have not received a rating above 1-star. While the middle school earned an adequate 3-star rating for the 2016 -17 school year, the two most recent ratings are below 3-stars.  

NCA staff provided testimony that outlined why they believe the school should not close. Highlights included: 

  • 2017 Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) ratings and subsequent years’ ratings are not comparable due to changes in measures
  • Students that attend NCA are highly mobile or transient, which the school is working to address 
  • Students that attend NCA enroll in the school with credit deficiencies
  • The school is actively working to address student social-emotional learning
  • The school has outlined intervention plans for middle and high school deficiencies 

After extensive presentations from SPCSA staff, Nevada Connections Academy (NCA) staff, and public comment from families– the board voted to deny the renewal of Nevada Connections Academy’s charter contract for their middle and high schools. NCA did not seek renewal for their elementary school, which will close at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. 

Click here to see the SPCSA memo regarding NCA’s renewal. 

Click here to download Nevada Connections Academy’s presentation. 

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Nevada Ed-Watch 4/19/19

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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 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? SPCSA members meet once monthly (three times in June)– 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 (2nd floor boardroom). Members of the public are invited to attend at either location. A time for public comment is provided at the beginning (for agenda items) and at the conclusion (on any matter) 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.

Click here for a list of all SPCSA Members.

Click here for a list of all SPCSA sponsored schools.

Friday, April 19, 2019
State Public Charter School Authority Board Meeting

Click here to see the meeting agenda

What happened at this meeting?

Public Comment
Members of the public provided testimony to Board members regarding:

  • Open meeting law compliance complaints against individual charter schools authorized by the State Public Charter School Authority.  

The Board welcomed the newly-appointed Executive Director of the State Public Charter School Authority

Rebecca Feiden was introduced and welcomed as the new Executive Director.

The Board Heard Staff Reports From Each Team (Authorizing, School Support, Finance & Operations, & Legal)

The Authorizing Team provided the following updates to the Board:

  • Relocation of the Elko Institute For Academic Achievement
  • Progress on SPCSA Performance Frameworks (Academic, Financial, and Organizational)
    • Academic Framework
      • The team has completed two listening sessions with a working group consisting of charter school leaders, Department of Education representatives, and SPCSA staff members. The group discussed the indicators and measures that would make up the Academic Framework. The group’s next meeting is scheduled for May 2nd.
    • Financial Framework
      • The team is working to fully implement the Financial Framework. So far, they have finished building internal measures (logic models), and expanded the ratings process to include all six years of financial performance.
    • Organizational Framework
      • The team has completed listening sessions and two formal working group sessions around the Organizational Framework. They are referencing a framework from the National Association of Charter School Authorizers as a foundation to build upon.
  • New Charter Applicants
    • 20 charters submitted a Notice of Intent to submit an application during the 2019 Summer cycle to launch schools in Clark, Washoe, and Nye counties.
      • Staff has notified school districts of the Notices of Intent that fall within their district boundaries.
      • The staff also provided clarification to districts that Notices of Intent are just a step in the approval process, and that these schools have not yet been approved or denied.
  • Charter Amendment Applications (Notice of Intent to submit a charter amendment application the 2019 summer cycle)
    • In response to concerns about the process being cumbersome, the team has been working with school leaders to streamline charter amendment requests. They have also administered a survey to collect feedback on ways to improve the process. Amendment requests will be presented during the June 28th Board meeting.
  • Charter school contract renewals have are being reviewed for the following:
    • Doral Academy
    • Coral Academy of Science
    • Learning Bridge
    • Nevada Virtual Academy
  • Revolving Loan Application cycle update
    • The SPCSA is an administrator of the state’s revolving loan fund for charter schools, regardless of their sponsor. Funds are provided for schools currently operating or in the start-up phase.
    • The team reported receiving 2 applications. One school has requested $56,000 dollars, and the other has requested $42,000 dollars.
    • Loan repayment occurs over 3 years, at prime rate, and is automatically deducted from the school’s DSA payment.

The School Support Team provided the following updates to the Board:

  • Assessment and accountability
    • The team is providing support to schools in the areas of assessment and accountability, including: assessment administration, testing irregularities, and monitoring civil rights data collection
  • Conferences, meetings, and trainings
    • The team will be attending conferences on emergency management, gifted education, and special education in the near future.
  • School support
    • The team is supporting schools with pre-enrollment audits, Career & Technical Education program guidance, facilitating a charter school safety committee, fielding technical questions, and liaising with the Department of Education for information.

The Operations & Finance Team provided the following updates to the Board:

  • Interim Finance Committee (IFC) meeting on April 4th
    • A semi-annual update was provided to Interim Finance Committee members.
    • The next update is due in October.
  • Executive Budget for the 2019-2021 biennium
    • The team is working with the Governor’s office and Legislative Council Bureau to finalize the agency’s two budget accounts:
    • Budget Account 2708 – Revolving Loan Account: The team has no indication that there are any issues with this budget and anticipate it will be approved.  
    • Budget Account 2711 – Operating Account: This account includes the operating budget of the agency including staff positions, grants, and other agency expenses. Once approved, these budgets will be in place July 1, 2019 through the next biennium.
      • This budget includes two pending items prior to being closed and voted on at the April 30th budget meeting. These include:
        • Four new staff positions – these positions would support site evaluations and a number of other areas within the SPCSA
        • Budget reserve level – concerns were raised about the reserve level during the February 22nd legislative budget hearing. The team has been working with the Governor’s office to reduce the level of reserve.

The Legal Team provided the following updates to the Board:

  • Litigation
    • A lawsuit was filed against the SPCSA by the National Coalition for Public School Options related to a public records request.
    • Two complaints were filed with the Attorney General’s (AG) office regarding a current and a former staff member.  The SPCSA has been working with the AG’s investigation office to provide all information requested, and general counsel expects that the investigation will close fairly soon without any adverse findings.
  • Open Meeting Law compliance
    • The Nevada State Attorney General’s office has received 76 open meeting law complaints this year against charter schools that are authorized by the SPCSA, the Clark County School District, and the Washoe County School District. SPCSA general counsel advised that the majority of complaints seem to be technical in nature, related to language in agendas. Schools will be allowed to contest particular violations. As remedy, schools will need to attend open meeting law training.

Board Approved Nevada Connections Academy’s Dual Enrollment Policy Update

In response to concerns about Connections Academy’s performance, the Board approved dual enrollment, but with the following conditions:

  • Evidence that the State Board of Education has approved the courses
  • Given performance, individual graduation plans for participating students be submitted to SPCSA staff for their records
  • Does not mean that their contract will be renewed in the future

Click here to see the staff recommendations report.

Click here to see the dual credit amendment request.

The Board heard updates on ongoing site evaluations

Staff shared the following site evaluation updates with Board members:

  • 13 school site evaluations have been completed
  • 3 site evaluations are scheduled for next week
  • Added 2 additional schools in the North to be evaluated in May
  • Goal is to complete 18 campus site evaluations by end of the school year

Additionally:

  • 9 final evaluation reports have been submitted to chairs, school leaders, and board chairs, with a 10th submitted by end of day Monday, April 22nd.
  • About 30 schools remain to be evaluated

Staff is seeing two trends during site evaluations:

  • Families report being happy with the school culture, programs offered, and the decision they made to enroll their student in that school.
  • A need for Boards to get more training around best practices to clarify their roles as school Board members and their responsibilities as a governing body.

A draft site evaluation schedule for the 2019-20 school year will be presented at the June Board meeting.

Click here to see the site evaluation updates document.

Click here to see the site evaluation schedule.

Click here to see the site evaluation handbook.

Board heard legislative updates

  • AB78:  SPCSA “omnibus” bill. This bill has passed the Assembly Education Committee and is pending a full Assembly Floor vote.  This bill, in its current form, does the following:
    • Clarifies the SPCSA’s role as a Local Education Agency (LEA)
    • Provides the SPCSA with plenary regulatory authority
    • Clarifies the annual reporting of sponsors to the Department of Education, including the comprehensive review the Department of Education should complete every 3 years, and adding 2 additional members to the SPCSA board, appointed by the State Board of Education.
    • Clarifies the responsibility of SPCSA to serve students with disabilities
    • Addresses the future of Achievement School District (ASD) schools’ sponsorship.
  • SB451: Variable length charter contract renewal. This bill has passed out of the Senate floor and will be heard next in the Assembly Committee on Education. This bill allows for variable length contract renewal at the discretion of the SPCSA, between 3 and 10 years. Under the current statute, only 6 year contract renewals are allowed.
  • SB441: Provides for separate regulation of virtual charter schools. This bill has passed out of the Senate Education Committee and is due next to be heard on the Senate Floor. This bill allows for the following:
    • Allows the authority to pass regulations to have a separate oversight role in regard to virtual schools
    • Allows the authority board to form a subcommittee to oversee virtual schools
    • Provides for drafting of regulations related to admission and enrollment requirements for those schools
    • Allows virtual schools to suspend or expel students who are not participating in the virtual program
    • The originally drafted bill allowed the authority to draft regulations to withhold a portion of DSA funds based on student performance, however this provision has been struck from the bill at present.
  • AB462: Formerly, Charter School Moratorium. This bill has passed out the Assembly Committee on Education and is due next to be heard on the full assembly floor for a vote. This bill originally placed a moratorium on all charter schools opening, however that provision has been struck. This bill now includes the following provisions:
    • Codifies site evaluations, including:
      1. Complete initial site evaluations of all campuses by June 30, 2020
      2. Then, conduct evaluations in first, third, and 5th year of schools’ operation
      3. Ensure that site evaluations are identifying any deficiencies and that corrective action is taken as needed
    • Completion of a statewide Pupil Needs Study by January 1, 2020, to include:
      • Where schools will go, justification, and proof of collaboration with districts and departments.
      • Academic needs study, which includes demographic information, at-risk population information, and proof that a new school serves the best interest of pupils.
    • Requires a growth management plan for success, to include:
      • 5 year projection related to growth, projected number of new schools to open and new campuses, projected increases in enrollment, renewals, academic information, and any other information deemed necessary to show that a new charter school or expansion of a charter school serves the best interest of pupils.

Board heard updates on the SPCSA strategic and growth management plan

SPCSA staff provided the Board information regarding the next iteration of SPCSA’s strategic plan

SPCSA staff stated that the Strategic Plan will largely center around a Growth Management Plan. The plan will provide detail on how the agency will continue to grow to serve students and ensure that the goals and purpose of the agency are being accomplished.

The development of the Growth Management Plan will provide SPCSA the platform to engage other agencies, schools, and community members to ensure that the plan aligns to the current needs of communities.

In May, staff will provide the Board an update on how the plan will be developed– including stakeholders to engage, anticipated timeline, and other inputs that will be incorporated into research and plan development.

SPCSA Board received training in Open Meeting Law Compliance.

Click here to see the full presentation.

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Nevada Ed-Watch: 2/15/19

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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 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? SPCSA members meet once monthly (three times in June)– 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 (2nd floor boardroom). Members of the public are invited to attend at either location. A time for public comment is provided at the beginning (for agenda items) and at the conclusion (on any matter) 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.

Click here for a list of all SPCSA Members.

Click here for a list of all SPCSA sponsored schools.

Friday, February 15, 2019
State Public Charter School Authority – Board Meeting

Click here to see the meeting agenda

What happened at this meeting?

The Board Heard Staff Reports From Each Team (Authorizing, School Support, Finance & Operations & Legal)

The Authorizing Team provided the following updates to the Board:

  • Site Evaluations:
    • Staff has participated in 15 hours of training for conducting site evaluations and conducted 5 site evaluations to date (on schedule to complete half of portfolio school site visits by the end of the semester).
    • It was noted that during focus groups, families at every school that received a visit report being happy with the decision they made to enroll their student in that school. Strong school culture at each school was also recognized.
    • A common opportunity for growth identified was around increasing instructional rigor.
  • School Applications:
    • The team is following up with schools that submitted a Letter of Intent to launch, but didn’t apply for authorization.
    • Reflections shared with schools that provided feedback were around schools needing to establish internal deadlines and requesting training on topics like Human Resources best practices, student recruitment, and funding.
  • Academic & Organizational Performance Frameworks:
    • The team held three 90-minute listening sessions with about 18 individuals to collect stakeholder input regarding SPCSA Performance Frameworks (both Academic and Organizational). Here’s what they heard:
      • A strong preference not to make the Academic Framework complicated, and not to duplicate the Nevada framework (NSPF)– rather, to look for complementary measures of performance.
      • A need to find a way to measure progress of students year-over-year.
      • Ensuring Organizational Framework standards are clear, simple, and avoid duplication from other components of the Frameworks.
    • Staff stated that the listening sessions are the first of many conversations. The Authorizing Team acknowledges that input from school leaders are necessary and welcomed. Next step is for attendees to participate in working groups (at least monthly) to continue developing the Academic and Organizational Frameworks.
    • Goal is for the framework to be updated and presented to the Board in June.
  • Focus on Schools updates
    • The team wants schools to share best practices with each other more regularly, and would like to hear from at least 6 schools in 2019 about what’s working. They also want to hear best practices across school types, like traditional district schools and other charters not sponsored by the SPCSA.
    • The team also wants to hear specifically from schools that have shown significant improvement, but are not ranked as 4- and 5- stars. The team talked about working with the press, the Charter School Authority of Nevada (CSAN), and other entities like Teach For America.

The School Support Team provided the following updates:

  • Provided training to school staff about how to validate graduation rates.
  • Attended school support site visits, trianings, and conferences about student engagement, Title I, and special education.
  • Engaging in ongoing communications with schools to provide technical supports around addressing parent concerns and providing guidance on state reporting.

The Finance and Operations Team provided the following updates:

  • Staffing– a new administrative assistant was hired.

The Legal Team provided the following updates:

  • Due Process Complaints– continuing to monitor issues with individual schools related to special education.
  • Executive Director Recruitment
    • Interviews will be conducted on March 8th with the 6 finalists. Then, the Board will select 3 candidates to be sent to the Governor for final selection.
    • Working with HR team to do reference checks and organize the interview process and questions.

Click here to see a summary of team updates from the previous board meeting and the 6 finalists (1/18/19).

Updates on Legislative Session and Status of Assembly Bill 78 Language

Staff provided an update regarding the 2019 Legislative Session and Assembly Bill 78. Staff stated that SPCSA staff is in close contact with Gov. Sisolak’s team and with education committee leadership.  

  • Legislative Updates:
    • AB78 – The SPCSA and Nevada Department of Education bill has undergone major revisions and now includes 5 major themes:
      • Ensuring that schools are serving all students, including special education and homeless students
      • Accountability of authorizers in ensuring that all annual reporting requirements are being met. This already exists in regulation, but they would like to specifically include in statute.
      • Giving SPCSA regulatory authority. Currently, the SPCSA does not have the authority to adopt its own regulations.
      • Clarifying that the SPCSA is the Local Education Agency (LEA) for their schools that are not currently designated as an LEA themselves.
      • Consolidating and combining the SPCSA and ASD, specifically in an effort to increase equitable access to high quality charter schools for all students.
  • Note: ultimately, all of these changes are up to the legislature to approve and are not final unless the bill passes.
  • Going forward, legislative updates will be provided to the Board in a written summary format. The team will work on a process to provide the Board with periodic updates between board meetings.

Board Hears Updates About the Beacon Academy of Nevada

SPCSA staff provided the Board with information regarding Beacon Academy’s performance under the Alternative Performance Framework.

Beacon Academy only serves high-need students, including students who are credit deficient, adjudicated, on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or have been habitually disciplined.

Click here to see the Beacon Academy 2017-2018 Report Card.

Click here to see the presentation.
Click here to read about Beacon Academy in the Nevada Independent.

Board Hears Quarterly Update From Discovery Charter School

The Discovery staff, their receiver, and their principal shared updates on the topics below on the second year of receivership:

  • Student enrollment and population
  • Lottery
  • Performance

The team is currently engaging in a process to identify a permanent operator for the school. They are also currently performing a feasibility study to assess the potential of adding 9th grade.

Board Heard Updates About the Closing of Nevada Virtual Academy

School staff met with families and provided a closure timeline, including a communications plan. They also provided an overview of progress of non-elementary grades.

Click here to see the presentation.

Board Heard Updates on Responses to the Interim Finance Committee

Staff provided the Board updates about responses due to the Interim Finance Committee (IFC) on February 1, 2019. SPCSA understands that there is one more report due to IFC regarding these questions before August 1st. Staff will bring the report before the Board in a draft form for input prior to submission.

Click here to see the Legislative Letter of Intent.

Public Comment

  • One local charter school leader talked about a positive experience during their site evaluation by the SPCSA. The school leader cited that the evaluators spent a significant amount of time in the classroom, debriefing with administrators, and facilitating focus groups with parents.
  • Announcement that February 27-28th is Public Charter School Days at the Capitol, which includes presentations and a policy dinner and reception with lawmakers.

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