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, August 23, 2024
State Public Charter School Authority Board Meeting
Access the meeting agenda and playback.
What happened at this meeting?
Public Comment
- Support for Necca Academy
- Support for Western Youth Leadership, Engagement, and Empowerment Middle School
- Gratitude to SPCSA board members and staff
Board Received a Presentation on the Portrait of a Learner
The Board received a presentation on Nevada’s Portrait of a Learner. Portrait of a Learner was sprung from a need to evolve learning, and through opportunities presented by legislation, opportunity analysis, visioning, and action planning through multiple stakeholders. The Portrait was co-designed with young people through the Vision Seekers Fellowship and Youth Empowerment Fellowship, as well as with educators through 13 school design teams across six districts, for a total of 50 engaged educators. Community engagement through a Portrait Perspectives Panel and multiple events helped formulate the finalized Portrait.
Next steps include a competency implementation pilot, school-level supports, and a assessment and accountability redesign task force.
Explore the presentation.
Board Conducted a Public Hearing for Proposed Regulatory Changes – LCB File No. R080-24 and Approved the Changes
The proposed changes to NAC 388A were reviewed at a public workshop in April, and are the final recommendations as required by Governor Lombardo’s 2023 executive order requiring state agencies to review existing state regulations and recommend at least 10 to be removed.
R080-24 revises several provisions regarding approving an application and requesting to amend language, including removing dates for amendment cycles, allowing charter schools to request an amendment any time during the year. It also repeals the authority of the Executive Director to require a new application if a charter school requests an amendment within 18 months after a request for an amendment. The proposed changes also allow for renewals for terms of at least three years, but not more than 10 years.
Board members approved the proposed changes.
Explore the regulatory language.
Board Approved the Consent Agenda
- SPCSA Order following the public hearing in compliance with procedures for adjudication under NRS 233B regarding the Notice of Termination for Eagle Charter School
- TEACH Las Vegas 2022-23 Financial Performance Ratings
Explore the Consent Agenda.
Board Received an Update on School Closures
The Board received an update on two recent school closures from the Closing Administrator for both schools. Immediate actions for both schools include facilitating alternative placements and preserving assets, as the only funds available to support the wind-down are those remaining with the schools. Therefore, both schools are ceasing fund outflows until financial conditions can be fully assessed.
Other immediate actions include paying staff for time worked, taking control of bank accounts, contacting vendors for contracts and unpaid invoices, coordinating and negotiating with landlords, managing PERS reports and payment plans, collecting remaining receivables, submitting reports, alternative locations for office hours, renewing insurance, selling furniture, fixtures, and equipment, and closing the books for the 2023-24 year. TEACH will also need to complete its 2022-23 financial audit.
Both schools have plans in place for their respective remaining PERS balances. Additionally, the closing administrator is working with TEACH to identify funds to pay other TEACH funds. Other wind-down activities will take place over the next several months.
Review the closure memo.
SPCSA Executive Director’s Report
Highlights from the report include:
- Thanking former member Jackson Olsen for his board service upon his resignation
- School Highlight: Nevada Rise serves about 450 students, and SPCSA staff toured the campus this week. The school experienced tremendous academic growth; this data will be reviewed at a later board meeting.
- Delinquent Schools’ PERS Contributions: NV Prep has an approved monthly payment plan. Explore Academy also has an approved repayment plan. TEACH Las Vegas will prioritize PERS payments, per the closure memo above. Equipo Academy has not yet submitted a repayment plan to PERS. Explore the memo.
- Update on Student Representative on the SPCSA Board: Seven students submitted applications, all of whom were well qualified for the role. The selected student representative will begin their tenure next month.
Board Heard an Update Regarding Schools that Deferred Opening to 2025-26
The Board approved requiring the following conditions for Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy to open in the 2025-26 school year:
- By June 1, 2025, provide evidence that PTAAN has 100 or more students fully enrolled for the 2025-26 school year, as well as submit a fully executed lease for a facility that will meet the needs of the school for the 2025-26 school year, located in one of the following zip codes: 89107, 89108, 89030, 89106, 89130, or 89084.
- By June 8, 2025, submit a board-approved final budget that includes revenue based on confirmed enrollment and expenses that incorporate the cost of the facility.
- Provide an update regarding the academic, organizational, and financial performance of all other PTAA-affiliated schools in September of each year through 2025.
- Provide evidence of partnerships with colleges or universities to offer dual credit programs in compliance with NRS 389.310.5.
- Complete the pre-opening process for new charter schools.
The Board approved requiring the following conditions for Rooted School Las Vegas to open in the 2025-26 school year:
- By June 1, 2025, provide evidence that Rooted has 90 or more students fully enrolled for the 2025-26 school year, as well as submit a fully executed lease for a facility that will meet the needs of the school for the 2025-26 school year, located in one of the following zip codes: 89115, 89030, 89110, 89156, or 89101.
- By June 8, 2025, submit a board-approved final budget that includes revenue based on confirmed enrollment and expenses that incorporate the cost of the facility.
- Complete the pre-opening process for new charter schools.
The Board approved requiring the following conditions for Do & Be Arts Academy of Excellence to open in the 2025-26 school year:
- By June 1, 2025, provide evidence that DBAE has 60 or more students fully enrolled for the 2025-26 school year, as well as submit a fully executed lease for a facility that will meet the needs of the school for the 2025-26 school year, located in one of the following zip codes: 89030, 89031, 89032, or 89081.
- By June 8, 2025, submit a board-approved final budget that includes revenue based on confirmed enrollment and expenses that incorporate the cost of the facility.
- Complete the pre-opening process for new charter schools.
Review the memo.
Board Made Decisions on New School Charter Applications
Nevada Classical Academy Elko’s mission is to cultivate within students a lifelong pursuit of academic excellence, virtuous living, and civic responsibility through a classical, content-rich education in the liberal arts and sciences. The school proposes to open in August 2025 for grades K-3, eventually serving grades K-8 and zip codes 89801 and 89815. At full enrollment, the school will serve 357 students annually. The school was approved with the following conditions:
- By January 1, 2025, provide evidence that a school leader has been hired.
- By March 1, 2025, provide a detailed plan with specific milestones for the school’s plan for identifying and supporting students with disabilities, English Learners, students who are economically disadvantaged, at-risk students, and students above grade level.
- By May 1, 2025, provide a written update on the training the governing board has received on analyzing and progress monitoring academic data, as well as the recruitment of an additional board member who is bilingual with strong ties to the local Hispanic community.
- By June 1, 2025, provide evidence that the school has 100 or more students enrolled, as well as a fully executed lease for a facility that will meet the needs of students.
- By June 8, 2025, submit a board-approved final budget that includes revenue based upon confirmed enrollment and expenses that incorporate the cost of the identified facility.
- Complete the SPCSA pre-opening process for new charter schools.
The school’s Committee to Form also provided information that they had secured a lease on a facility, which they are expecting to take over September 1. They have seen community interest in enrollment, and their school leader has begun a training program to coincide with mentorship from other charter leaders.
Explore the recommendation memo.
Nevada Early College & Career Academy (Necca Academy) has a mission of increasing access to dual enrollment opportunities for at-risk youth groups. The school proposes to open in August 2025 for grades 10-12, eventually serving grades 9-12 and zip codes 89032, 89031, 89030, and 89106. At full enrollment, the school would serve 600 students annually. The Board voted not to approve Necca Academy’s application based on a finding that the applicant failed to satisfy the requirements in NRS 388A.249(3), but encouraged the school to reapply after these concerns had been addressed.
Explore the recommendation memo.
Western Youth Leadership, Engagement, and Empowerment Middle School (WYLEES) has a mission of energizing diverse 6-8th grade youth leaders who are socially, emotionally, and academically prepared to shape the future; engage students in academics through community service and real-world, hands-on learning; and to empower students to solve problems through innovation, advocacy, and action to create a better world. The school proposes to open in August 2025 for grades 6-8, serving zip codes 89109, 89104, 89169, 89102, 89106, and 89101. At full enrollment, the school would serve 501 students annually. The school was approved with the following conditions:
- By January 1, 2025, provide evidence that WYLEES has added a parent of a student of the proposed school to its board.
- By June 1, 2025, provide evidence that the school has 160 or more students enrolled, as well as a fully executed lease for a facility that will meet the needs of students.
- By June 8, 2025, submit a board-approved final budget that includes revenue based upon confirmed enrollment and expenses that incorporate the cost of the identified facility.
- Complete the SPCSA pre-opening process for new charter schools.
Explore the recommendation memo.
Board Approved Proposed Changes to the Site Evaluation Process and Site Evaluation Schedule for 2024-25
The Board approved changes to the site evaluation process and schedule. Changes include improving the look and functionality of the report, shortening the time between the evaluation and the draft from eight weeks to four weeks, replacing the organizational performance chart to a “yes” or “no” response, uploading pre-site informational items into Epicenter for improved efficiency and timeliness, and improving procedures to gain more information about the school prior to the evaluation.
The proposed schedule can be found here.
Explore the presentation.
Board Approved Charter Sponsorship Transfer Application Process
Staff provided an overview of the application charter schools would use if they wanted to change from their current sponsor to the SPCSA, in accordance with NAC 388A and NRS 388A. Clark County School District has made a strategic decision to not sponsor charter schools moving forward, so the schools with existing sponsorship that will need to transfer to another authorizer.
Transfer of sponsorship applications will be available beginning August 23, with staff recommendations to the Board delivered within 60 days of the transfer submission.
The Board approved the application process and timeline, as detailed in the document linked below.
Explore the timeline and application.
Staff Reviewed Expenses and Fees Incurred from Eagle Charter Schools of Nevada’s Public Hearing
Staff reviewed expenses incurred while conducting the public hearing in compliance with the procedures for adjudication of contested cases under NRS 233B for the closure of Eagle Charter School. Total expenses were $22,816.92, inclusive of Litigation Discovery Group for exhibit binders, transcription services and precise transcripts for court reporters, trial technicians, and staff overtime.
Board approved the expenses as incurred.
Explore the memo.
Long-Range Calendar (next 3 months):
Agenda items over the next three SPCSA board meetings are anticipated to include:
- 2023-24 Organizational Performance Framework results
- 2023-24 NSPF and SPCSA Academic Performance Framework results
- 2025 Demographic and Needs Assessment
- Resubmitted charter applications
Review the long-range calendar.
The next Meeting of the SPCSA Board is scheduled for Friday, October 4, @ 9:00 a.m.
