Washoe County School Board targets public charter schools
In a recent Washoe County School Board meeting, Trustees discussed their 2025 legislative priority plan, sparking a robust debate among trustees and community members. The stated primary aim of the proposed plan is to fortify an environment where students can succeed. However, the undertone was that the popularity and high-performance of public charter schools have become a perceived threat to their status quo.
A controversial point of discussion was the role of for-profit vendors that service public charter schools, specifically Education Management Organizations (EMOs) that provide operations and administration services. With minimal dissent, Trustees went on to approve the legislative priority plan four to two, which included language to prohibit public charter schools from employing for-profit EMOs.
“Isn’t it ironic that you’re attacking public charter schools for employing for-profit vendors in the same meeting you approved approximately $7 million in contracts to for-profit vendors?” said Eddie Ableser, an advocate for public charter schools, during public testimony.
Four board members, Trustees Smith, Westlake, Mayberry, and Woodley, voted for the legislative priority plan. Two board members, Trustees Nicolet and Church, voted against the plan. Trustee Rodriguez was not present.
Trustee Nicolet cited concerns about the District targeting EMOs, and Trustee Church defended public charter schools' inclusivity for all students, including those with disabilities.
The Nevada Department of Education aims to set high standards for equity and quality in education. However, the implementation faces hurdles due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, debates over educational policies, and how best to address diverse student needs, including those with disabilities or requiring special education. While public charter schools operate with less funding per pupil (approx. 30% less), their operational flexibility has led to innovative approaches, resulting in a reputation for serving students with individual needs at a higher level than Washoe’s traditional public schools.
Nevada has around 80 public charter school campuses serving approximately 62,000 students, which makes up 13% of the state’s K-12 population. The academic results of public charter schools are held accountable by the State Public Charter School Authority, and the data suggests Nevada’s charter schools are excelling in comparison to their counterparts in traditional public schools. One-third of Nevada’s public charter schools are rated as 5-star schools by the Nevada State Performance Framework rating system, which ranks public schools on a 5-star scale. Overall, 73% are rated 3-stars or higher, significantly higher than the overall rate for nearly all traditional school districts.
According to faculty and parents of public charter school students, the Washoe School District's attacks on their students’ schools are because of their success in educational achievement.
“Instead of focusing resources on improving Washoe Schools, the District prioritizes harming the public charter schools outperforming them in order to limit parental interest and choice, forcing them to accept the status quo within their traditional public schools,” said a Mater Academy parent.
The discussion around public charter schools versus traditional public schools often boils down to individual school performance, parental satisfaction, and educational options. However, for the proponents of prohibiting public charter schools from hiring for-profit EMOs, the complaints seem to be mostly aimed at Academica Nevada, which provides administration services for several public charter schools in Nevada. The percentage of revenue Washoe County Schools spend on administration is approximately 2% higher than the amount Academica Nevada receives from each school it supports in Northern Nevada.
Trustees Smith and Woodley alleged that out-of-state Academica offices profit from Nevada taxpayers. According to records, the fees paid to Academica Nevada employ a professional staff of more than 60 Nevadans, including lawyers, accountants, administrators, and other professionals who work directly with the Nevada schools every day. Contracts and expense reports between Academica Nevada and the schools they service are publicly accessible for transparency and accountability.
The meeting underscores the complex dynamics within educational policy-making, with significant implications for Nevada’s public charter schools and the broader educational framework in Washoe County. Critics argue these policies could potentially disadvantage public charter school students, while proponents believe they will enhance the effectiveness of public education. The District's legislative priority plan, now set, will guide their educational policies in the coming years, affecting both students and educators across the region.
