SPCSA opens workshop on moving charter application window to January; no public comments

The State Public Charter School Authority opened a workshop on proposed amendments to NAC 388A.260, the regulation governing applications to form a charter school, and invited public comment on the change.

"On 07/26/2024, the SPCSA board voted to modify the current new charter application cycle and move the application window from April to January, effectively adding 3 months to the incubation year," said Melissa Mackadon, executive director of the State Public Charter School Authority, as she opened the discussion. Mackadon said the proposed regulatory change would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

Mackadon explained procedural matters for the workshop and directed attendees to the SPCSA website for meeting materials and to the public comment email for written submissions. She opened a period for public comment on the proposed regulation and asked for in-person and virtual remarks; no comments were offered in person, on the virtual platform, or in writing. The workshop was closed after the public-comment period and the meeting proceeded to the regular public comment period for items not on the agenda.

The workshop served as an early step in the regulatory process to solicit stakeholder feedback as SPCSA staff develop amendment language for NAC 388A.260. No formal vote on the regulatory amendment occurred at the workshop; Mackadon recorded that the SPCSA board had already taken action on the timing change on July 26, 2024. Details on next steps for the amendment (such as additional workshops, proposed text, or deadlines for written comment) were not specified during the meeting.