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2017 CSAN Legislative Report
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CSAN seeking nominations for:
State Public Charter Authority Board
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CSAN September Conference Update
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I. Legislative Report:
Carson City, 2017:
The 79th Legislation Session in 2017 produced more "help" than "harm" for the Public Charter School movement in Nevada. For instance, the Governor's approved education budget for per-pupil allocations will
increase approximately
$190 per student for the coming biennium (2018-19). Bills like A.B 78 and A.B 154, highlighted in previous
CSAN Legislative Alerts--requiring "consultations" with school districts for charters to grow and expand and imposing "prevailing wages" on charter construction and maintenance projects, were both defeated.
Overall it was a
good session for charter schools. We have more hard work to do for the 2019 Session, including advocating for expanding facilities funding sources for charter schools--which Nevada's SAGE Commission and the Guinn Center have supported us on. Efforts are underway to draft bills for the next session to align with those facilities needs. Following the
2017 CSAN Conference in September, we will initiate a discussion and planning process with our member schools to begin identifying legislative priorities for the 2019 Session.
In the meantime, below are a
number of the bills that passed in 2017 that will likely have an impact on the opportunities and duties you will face as a charter leader in the coming school year...
State Assembly bills...
A.B. 7...The State Public Charter School Authority (CPCSA) interprets this bill "making changes to implement ESSA and gives greater authority to CCR (college & career ready diplomas) as giving greater latitude for charter schools to be exempt from most licensure requirements (with the exception of ELL and Special Ed requirements).
A.B. 49...The Charter Authority's (CPCSA) bill according to the Legislative Digest: "AN ACT relating to education; revising the requirements for a charter school to be eligible to be rated using the alternative performance framework; prohibiting certain actions relating to written charters and charter contracts; creating a process for filing complaints regarding charter schools which are sponsored by the State Public Charter School Authority; requiring a charter school to give written notice to the parent or legal guardian of each pupil and take certain actions after the occurrence of certain events; establishing a process for a charter school to have an expedited review to become a qualified provider of an alternative route to licensure; prohibiting a member of the State Public Charter School Authority from engaging in certain acts; revising provisions relating to the appointment of the Executive Director of the Authority; revising various other provisions relating to charter schools; and providing other matters properly relating thereto."
**CSAN recommends you read thru the bill in its entirety. All of it relates to charters in Nevada.
A.B. 110..."Competency-based education" (CBE). While only a pilot program to begin with--the Department of Education (NDE) will establish competitive grants to provide CBE programs for funding. Those charter that are embarking upon certain "individualized learning plans" may qualify for such funding when it becomes available, down the road.
A.B. 127..."Revises provisions relating to emergencies in schools..." NDE shall conduct an annual conference regarding safety in public schools. (In order to save Charters $$--CSAN negotiated to have a presentation given at annual CSAN Conference).
A
.B. 221..."Amends the requirements of the model plan for management of a crisis or emergency in schools." **Includes procedure for evacuating a charter school to a designated space within a nearby district middle or high school, and insure that any school identified is prepared to accommodate the charter school students and staff.
A.B 434..."Makes appropriations for incentives for new teachers and teachers in Title 1 and underperforming schools." NDE to provide $2.5 million in funding for new teachers at Title 1 schools and $2.5 million for current teachers in Title 1 schools.
A
.B. 482..."Revises provisions relating to programs of career and technical education." NDE to adopt regulations to establish criteria to award grants to CTE programs within schools.
State Senate bills...
S.B. 19..."Revises provisions relating to dual credit courses (high school & college)." This was Gov. Sandoval's signature education bill this session. CSAN supported it's passage--with prominent CSAN schools (namely--Nevada High School & Oasis Academy) being real pioneers in the dual enrollment area. NDE will oversee the sending out of cooperative agreements sent by community colleges, state colleges or universities that offer dual credit courses.
S.B. 49..."Revises provisions relating to funding for pupils with disabilities in public [and charter] schools." If a school district or charter school has reported an enrollment of pupils with disabilities exceeding 13% of the total pupil enrollment--an additional apportionment shall be made..."
S.B. 66..."Revises provisions relating to work-based learning programs." NDE shall evaluate applications from school districts, charter school or nonprofits to fund the development and implementation of work-based learning programs and distribute money for that purpose in consultation with the Office of Economic Development.
S.B. 132..."Provisions for the establishment of an individual graduation plan for certain pupils." Superintendent (NDE) shall make a determination each year concerning the number of credits by which a pupil must be deficient to be eligible for an individual graduation plan. Sec. 1 of this bill "allows the governing body of a charter school that operates as a high school and is in good standing with its sponsor--to adopt a policy to authorize the establishment of a individual graduation plan."
S.B. 178..."Revises provisions relating to the funding formula for K-12 public education." NDE shall provide a per pupil funding amount of $1,200 for each pupil identified to each school starting with funding 1-star schools and proceeding to 2-start schools and up until all the schools in the star range can be funded. NDE will develop a method for projecting the number of pupils who are at or below the 25th percentile for proficiency."
S.B. 241..."Provides for the establishment of the State Seal of STEM Program and State Seal of STEAM Program." NDE to adopt regulations for school programs to qualify.
S.B. 200..."Revises provisions relating to instruction in computer education and technology." NDE shall review instruction in computer science and technology submitted to the State Board of Education. NDE shall distribute money appropriated in this bill to districts and charter schools to carry out the provisions in this act.
**
There were of course many more bills passed during the 2017 Legislative Session. As regulations are brought forward and some of the new laws become a concern--CSAN will update its members with interim "Legislative Alerts." Don't hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns on behalf of your school.
Pat Hickey
, Executive Director, CSAN
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II. State Public Charter Authority Board Nomination:
CSAN
has the statutory responsibility to select a new State Charter Authority (SPCSA) Board member due to the resignation of CSAN-appointee Adam Johnson in order to assume his new duties at Democracy Prep Charter.
CSAN will accept recommendations/nominations from its member schools. Below are the statutory requirements and qualifications desired. Please submit any recommended persons you would like to nominate to serve on the Charter Authority Board--and I will forward them to the CSAN Board of Directors for their deliberation.
Thanks
...Pat Hickey
(Requirements for appointees)--
Nevada Statute 388A. 153
1...The membership of the State Public Charter School Authority consists of:(a) Two members appointed by the Governor in accordance with subsection 2;
(b) Two members, who must not be Legislators, appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate in accordance with subsection 2;
(c) Two members, who must not be Legislators, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly in accordance with subsection 2; and
(d) One member appointed by the Charter School Association of Nevada or its successor organization.
2. The Governor, the Majority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly shall ensure that the membership of the State Public Charter School Authority:
(a) Includes persons with a demonstrated understanding of charter schools and a commitment to using charter schools as a way to strengthen public education in this State;
(b) Includes a parent or legal guardian of a pupil enrolled in a charter school in this State;
c) Includes persons with specific knowledge of:
(1) Issues relating to elementary and secondary education; (2) School finance or accounting, or both;
(3) Management practices;
(4) Assessments required in elementary and secondary
education;
(5) Educational technology; and
(6) The laws and regulations applicable to charter schools;
(d) Insofar as practicable, reflects the ethnic and geographical diversity of this State; and
(e) Insofar as practicable, consists of persons who are experts on best practices for authorizing charter schools and developing and operating high-quality charter schools and charter management organizations.
3. Each member of the State Public Charter School Authority must be a resident of this State.
4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, a member of the State Public Charter School Authority must not be actively engaged in business with or hold a direct pecuniary interest relating to charter schools, including, without limitation, serving as a vendor, contractor, employee, officer, director or member of the governing body of a charter school, educational management organization or charter management organization.
5. Not more than two members of the State Public Charter School Authority may be teachers or administrators who are employed by a charter school or charter management organization in this State. For a teacher or administrator employed by a charter school or charter management organization to be eligible to serve as a member of the State Public Charter School Authority, the charter school or charter management organization which employs the teacher or administrator must not have ever received an annual rating established as one of the three lowest ratings of performance pursuant to the statewide system of accountability for public schools.
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III. CSAN Conference Update:
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Dear CSAN Nevada Charter School Leader,
I hope the school year was completed with most of your expectations being reached.I also hope you're enjoying a well-deserved break before you begin planning for next school year.
I wanted to remind you of
CSAN's Annual Conference on Sept. 21-22nd in Las Vegas
. We are planning a truly spectacular Dinner & Conference with the "National Teacher of the Year" [from a charter school], Governor Brian Sandoval, and many other notable participants. Along with professional development credits--we are planning workshops in a number of important areas for:
teachers, administrators, board members, parents, school finance persons
, etc.
In order to best prepare for our conference, please click the link below and fill out the survey to give a general number of participants attending.This year's conference will be at
The Orleans
,
with great conference hotel rates for those coming from the North
.
We are re-doing the
CSAN Website
to include conference information and registration. Expect to see it soon.
Also--I will be sending out on
Friday, June 30th--CSAN's
review of the just-completed 2017 Legislative Session. Call me if you have any questions or suggestions.
All the best,
Pat Hickey
Executive Director
CSAN
(775) 762-8006
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Dear Charter School Partner,
It was a pleasure meeting you recently at either the Annual National or Utah public charter school conference. We in Nevada are thrilled about the growing interest in charter school expansion that we see taking place. I hope your efforts will assist the Nevada charter sector in the growth spurt we are now witnessing.
I wanted to remind you of the dates of the Charter School Association of Nevada's (CSAN) annual conference in Las Vegas, Sept. 21-22nd. Our conference will be held at The Orleans, a conference-friendly property just off the Strip with great conference rate hotel room offerings.
CSAN is in the process of re-doing our website to include conference information and registration details. Included will be sponsorship packages for corporate, non-profit, and vender involvement. Thank you for being patient with us--we hope to have it up soon.
Again, please mark your calendars for Sept. 21-22nd.
I'll be in touch soon. Please call me with any questions or suggestions, for what promises to be a most inspiring conference and opportunity for the charter school movement to grow in the Silver State.
Best,
Pat Hickey
Executive Director
Charter School Association of Nevada
(775) 762-8006
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Enjoy your
July 4th holiday!
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Education Dive – June 23rd, 2017
ECOT's decision to layoff a quarter of its staff as a result of necessary repayment to the state reflects some of the limitations of virtual online schooling, which may be much more difficult to track and measure on student performance.
LA Times - June 23rd, 2017
Charter schools remain a subject of intense debate in Los Angeles, especially with the arrival soon of two new school board members who were supported by charter backers.
While research on charters often is inconclusive and partisan, a study released this week has ammunition for both their enthusiasts and their critics.
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Opinion/Commentary Articles
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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).
Providence Journal – June 24th, 2017
A new study by Stanford University underscores the stunning success of Blackstone Valley Prep, the superb mayoral academy that serves public school students from Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln and Cumberland. It found that BVP students — many drawn from the poorest neighborhoods in the state — gain the equivalent of 100 extra days of education in math and English, compared with traditional schools.
The 74 – June 25th, 2017
I spent some time earlier this month walking the halls of D.C.’s Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the National Charter Schools Conference. It was a diverse crowd: thousands of education leaders from Hawaii to Massachusetts engaged in myriad conversations about charter school instruction, staffing, financing, and more. Folks were excited to be in the capital and eager to learn more about how shifting federal priorities could influence the charter school movement.
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Education Blogs, Forums and Resources
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Below are some other great education reform news, blog and discussion sites that may be of interest:
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More about Charter School Association of Nevada
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