Charter School Association of Nevada Legislative Outlook 2017 Chartering better education for Nevada

Let us know if your school is in the news! Please send any articles or announcements to Michael Lienhard .  Executive Director: Pat Hickey, (775) 762-80006, pathickey@dataclonemail.com

Rural Areas in Nevada Can Benefit from Charter Schools, Too. Charter schools in Fallon, Elko and Ely are helping rural community students prepare for careers they and their communities need. See below:

Five Star School-- Oasis Academy Fallon, Nevada

Oasis Academy was started with the intent to create an environment conducive for effective teaching and learning. Classroom size for grades K-8 has always been capped at 20 students at Oasis. "Often times parents in rural communities have absolutely no choice, or very limited choice, when it comes to educational options for their children.  I look forward to watching effective educational options grow in our rural communities across Nevada."                                - Executive Director Melissa Mackedon, Oasis Academy, Fallon, NV                                   For more information on Oasis Academy click here

Elko Institute for Academic Achievement Elko, Nevada

T he Elko Institute for Academic Achievement is a tuition-free public charter school that focuses on math, science and technology--educational skills that Eastern Nevada's thriving mining industry relies upon    "Given that the charter school model is designed to include a tremendous amount of autonomy we are so very fortunate to be able to tailor what we do each and every day to the needs of our students. EIAA intentionally limits our classroom sizes to ensure each of our students receives the differentiation and support they require.   Additionally the Elko Institute for Academic Achievement has been able to tailor our curriculum model to the needs of our local businesses so we are graduating students who possess cutting edge skills and a strong knowledge base for a variety of career options.   Charter Schools within rural communities such as Elko provide a unique choice for parents who are looking for a tailored specialized educational experience." - Executive Director EIAA, Connie Zeller  For more information on EIAA click  here

Learning Bridge Charter School Ely, Nevada   Learning Bridge Charter School In Ely, Nevada offer students in White Pine County a small class size, student-centered education in a STEAM curriculum (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). Taking a "global perspective" from a rural Nevada community--students at Learning Bridge are offered Chinese language instruction in K-8 classes. "Parental choice makes for a world of difference, Here at Learning Bridge, there is real buy-in from parents and kids."   -  Kristy Sedlacek, Principal For more information on Learning Bridge click  here    2017 Legislative Issues in Nevada S.B. 19--Filed by Governor Sandoval's Administration-- CSAN statement: "The Administration's bill (S.B. 19) allowing Nevada's secondary students, including charter school pupils, to enroll in dual credit courses earning college credit. This innovative legislation will help in our goal to create a pipeline for workforce development in the 'New Nevada' so many of us are working towards."-- CSAN supports this bill.  A.B. 49--Filed by the Charter School Authority --This seeks to clarify and modernize certain laws pertaining to charters schools in Nevada. The bill is generally supported by CSAN, but there remains some questions and concerns that need further clarification. A.B. 78--Filed by the Education Committee (on behalf of the Clark County School District) --This bill gives school districts additional oversight over the establishment of charter schools in Nevada. As charter schools are generally seeking autonomy and are mostly governed by the Charter School Authority--CSAN is opposed to this bill.

Coral Academy Students Receive Awards at FTC Event CORAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE LAS VEGAS STUDENTS ATTEND FIRST TECH CHALLENGE, NEVADA ROBOTICS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WHAT: Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas (CASLV) students in grades 6-9 recently put their robotic skills to the test at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics state championship. The team took second place in the Finalist Awards and won the Thinking Award for best reflecting their ideas, season, and journey through their “Engineering Notebook.” During the competition, students were required to design, build, and program their very own robots to compete in a game of skill and strategy against opposing teams. The Coral FTC Robotics Team missed the finals by three points, but look forward to competing again next year.  WHO: Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas (CASLV) is a K-12 state sponsored, tuition-free public charter school where students are selected by a lottery system. The school’s curriculum focuses on STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The school’s mission is to provide a safe, rigorous college preparatory environment, promoting social responsibility and a culturally-diverse community dedicated to becoming lifelong learners bound for success. Since its founding in 2007, the school has won a multitude of prestigious awards, honors and accolades. Most recently, Washington Post listed CASLV as one of the top schools in Nevada and the nation in its list of "America’s Most Challenging High Schools." For the 2016-17 school year, CASLV opened two new campuses in the Centennial Hills area and Nellis Air Force Base. WHERE: Northwest Career and Technical Academy 8200 W. Tropical Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89149 ONLINE LINKS: www.CASLV.org www.Facebook.com/CASLV Twitter: @CoralAcademyLV Instagram: @CoralAcademyLV MEDIA CONTACTS:  Marina Nicola/Erika Pope Vox Solid Communications mnicola@wearevoxsolid.com, epope@wearevoxsolid.com (702) 586-2137, (702) 249-2977

News Articles

Parents, students rally against charter school cap New York Post– February 7th, 2017    About 1,500 charter school students and parents descended on the state capital Tuesday to demand that lawmakers eliminate a cap on charters, fund them at a level comparable to other public schools and allow co-locations. African American Charter Public School Parents, Alumni, Teachers, Students and Leaders to Push Back Against NAACP’s Moratorium on Charter Schools Los Angeles Sentinel– February 9th, 2017   About 1,500 charter school students and parents descended on the state capital Tuesday to demand that lawmakers eliminate a cap on charters, fund them at a level comparable to other public schools and allow co-locations. The next generation of charter school innovation and impact Education Drive– February 9th, 2017   About 1,500 charter school students and parents descended on the state capital Tuesday to demand that lawmakers eliminate a cap on charters, fund them at a level comparable to other public schools and allow co-locations.

Opinion/Commentary Articles

Please Note: The following is a sampling of opinion articles about charter schools that appeared in the media. The opinions in these articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Charter School Association of Nevada (CSAN). The DeVos Apocalypse Wall Street Journal - February 8th, 2017 The extraordinary battle over Betsy DeVos’s nomination to be secretary of education is the defining event of the Trump presidency’s early days. As presented, the DeVos confirmation appeared to be a standard partisan conflict between Democrats and Republicans, or in the conventional update, all that’s good and all that’s Trump. But something deeper was at stake here, which is why the Democrats raised the nomination for a second-level cabinet post to a political apocalypse. The issue presumably at the center of this nomination fight is the future of the education of black children who live in urban neighborhoods. Op-ed | Charter Schools: An opportunity for opportunity The Lane Report - January 24th, 2017 Kentucky felt an earthquake on Nov. 8 that drastically changed the makeup of Frankfort and provided the Bluegrass State with a viable path to finally adopt needed reforms. With an eager Governor and a General Assembly intent on improving Kentucky’s business climate and education system, Kentuckians from all parts of the state should be excited about one thing: opportunity. The case for Arizona charter schools (or at least school choice) The Arizona Republic - January 28th, 2017  Charter schools, which are public schools, provide choices and options for families. Like traditional district schools, public charter schools are free to attend. They serve as stewards of public trust and public funds. Having a robust mix of district and charter schools available to all allows students and parents to find the individualized education that fits the needs of their children.

Education Blogs, Forums and Resources

Below are some other great education reform news, blog and discussion sites that may be of interest: Charter School Association of Nevada Charter School Authority Department of Education Charter School Charter Schools Located in Clark County, Nevada National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Charter Schools in Nevada Just the facts Center for Education Reform

Community Calendar

The following is a list of events put on by Schools and organizations throughout the state: Charter School Law Date: Thursday, March 2nd Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Eastern Description: This course, presented by a nationally recognized education attorney, will provide a comprehensive overview of the laws applicable to charter schools, including general education students, special education students, and discipline. The course is for charter school administrators and governing board members, school attorneys, parent attorneys, and attorneys in other practice areas who have an interest in school law and school choice. In this seminar, our experienced faculty will walk you through the laws that govern charter schools. Learn how to handle with issues, matters and cases involving charter schools. Topics: School Choice, Charter Schools and Constitutionality Sources of Charter School Law Legislative and Case Law Updates Complying with Federal Laws Special Education and Charter Schools Discipline of Special Needs Students Avoiding Exclusionary Practices Navigating the Application, Approval and Renewal Process Accountability Standards Funding Sources Registration: Click here to register .

More about Charter School Association of Nevada

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