Nevada Ed-Watch: SPCSA 8/25/23

State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA)

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

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

Click here for SPCSA meeting schedule and materials.

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

Click here for a list of all SPCSA Members.

Click here for a list of all SPCSA sponsored schools.

Friday, August 25, 2023

State Public Charter School Authority Board Meeting

Access the meeting agenda and playback.

What happened at this meeting?

Public Comment

Public comment highlights included:

• Support for new charter school applications, including Thrive Point Academy, Do and Be Arts Academy, Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy, and Vegas Vista Academy

SPCSA Executive Director’s Report

Highlights from the report include:

• Star ratings for the 2022-23 school year will be released next month for the first time in four years. SPCSA Academic Performance Ratings will be able to be viewed alongside star ratings. The Director also outlined the conditions by which schools are notified and how the Authority approaches remediation when they are underperforming.
• The Executive Director has submitted her resignation to Governor Lombardo. Pursuant to state law, the Governor will appoint a replacement from three names submitted by the SPCSA board. Explore the Executive Director’s memo detailing the responsibilities and necessary qualifications for the role, and the job announcement. The Board approved the rubric for scoring Executive Director applicants.

Board Heard an Update Regarding the Closure of Girls Empowerment Middle School

The closure plan remains on track. All teachers were paid through the end of their contracts, as well as other compensation, including PERS contributions. All former students have found other schools. Files have been disbursed to the necessary parties.

Board Reviewed School Contract Amendment Applications

Oasis Academy was approved to construct and occupy a new facility for its ninth and tenth grade students, estimated to be operational for the 2024-25 school year. Explore the recommendation memo.

PilotED – Cactus Park Elementary was approved to reduce its enrollment cap from 432 students to 300 students for the 2023-24 school year. Explore the recommendation memo.

Rooted School was conditionally approved to relocate to its permanent facility, located at 2401 E. Tonopah, Las Vegas, NV 89030. Explore the recommendation memo.

Board Adopted the Financial Performance Framework Results Presented for FY2022

SPCSA staff conducts evaluations under its Financial Performance Framework to ensure a charter school’s financial performance. The board adopted the Framework results for certain schools for the 2022 fiscal year. Staff also recommended issuing a Notice of Concern under the Financial Performance Framework to Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada, which requires the school to develop and submit a financial improvement plan.

Explore the recommendation memo.

Board Reviewed Charter School Transportation Plans and Amendment Applications

Assembly Bill 400 of the 2023 legislative session appropriated $7 million per year to the SPCSA to fund student transportation to charter schools.

The following schools submitted transportation plans and associated amendment applications and were approved to begin transportation service for students. The schools were awarded different amounts, as noted below:

• Battle Born Academy – $99,567 – Explore the recommendation memo.
• Beacon Academy – $149,516 – Explore the recommendation memo.
• Discovery Charter School – Hillpointe Campus – $179,000 – Explore the recommendation memo.
• Discovery Charter School – Sandhill Campus – $46,657 – Explore the recommendation memo.
• Mariposa Language and Learning Academy – $63,504 – Explore the recommendation memo.
• Nevada Prep Charter School – $127,807 – Explore the recommendation memo.
• PilotEd Cactus Park Elementary School – $66,000 – Explore the recommendation memo.
• Sage Collegiate Public Charter School – $111,440 – Explore the recommendation memo.

Board Took Action on New Charter School Applications

SPCSA staff provided the Board with their recommendations relating to the following charter school applications from the 2023 application cycle, and the Board took the following actions:

Do and Be Arts Academy is a K-8 charter school (opening with grades K-2 and 6 served) focused on cultivating creativity and change-makers, and achieving academic excellence. It is focused on the North Las Vegas community and plans to serve 280 students in its opening year. The school’s application was conditionally approved. To view the conditions of the approval, explore the recommendation memo.

Mind Your Books is a K-8 charter school with a mission to improve the academic achievement of at-risk students. The school was not approved based on findings that it did not satisfy requirements outlined in Nevada Revised Statutes. Explore the recommendation memo.

Nevada Classical Academy is a K-12 charter school (opening with grades K-6) with a mission to educate the minds of students to seek truth, beauty, and goodness as they pursue academic excellence. The school was not approved based on findings that it did not satisfy requirements outlined in Nevada Revised Statutes. Explore the recommendation memo.

Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy is a K-12 charter school (opening with grades K-8) with a mission to empower and engage students to reach their full potential through an inquiry-based STEM/STEAM education. It serves several zip codes in Clark County and is targeting a location in the 89107, 89108, 89030, 89106, 89130, and 89084 zip codes. Its planned enrollment for opening year is 257 students. The school’s application was conditionally approved. To view the conditions of the approval, explore the recommendation memo.

Thrive Point Academy of Nevada is a public charter high school serving grades 9-12, with a mission to offer a schooling experience for students who are at-risk, in need of credit recovery, have been suspended or have habitual disciplinary issues, are academically disadvantaged, and/or have an IEP. The school was not approved based on findings that it did not satisfy requirements outlined in Nevada Revised Statutes. Leadership was urged to resubmit the application following the board’s feedback. Explore the recommendation memo.

Vegas Vista Academy is a K-12 charter school (opening with grades K-3), with a proposed location in the 89106, 87107, or 89108 zip codes, with a mission to facilitate equity and access through a curriculum focused on academic excellence, community service learning, bilingual fluency, and outdoor experiential education. Its planned enrollment for its opening year is 200 students. The school’s application was conditionally approved. To view the conditions of the approval, explore the recommendation memo.

Long-Range Calendar (next 3 months):

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

• Academic Performance Framework results
• Review of state assessment and school performance data
• Review of student enrollment and demographics
• Resubmitted charter school applications

Explore the calendar.

Public Comment #2

Public comment included gratitude for Executive Director Feiden as she transitions out of the role.

The next Meeting of the SPCSA Board is scheduled for Friday, October 13, 2023, @ 9:00 a.m.