Charter School Choice
Does the state have charter schools?
Are for-profit charter schools or management companies allowed?
Charter schools cannot operate as for-profit but can contract with for-profit educational management organizations.
A charter management organization is defined as:
"1. A nonprofit organization that holds a written charter, charter contract or other equivalent agreement to operate more than one charter school in this State or another state; or
2. A nonprofit organization incorporated in this State for the purpose of operating a charter school in cooperation with a charter management organization that holds a written charter, charter contract or other equivalent agreement to operate more than one charter school in another state."
An educational management organization is defined as:
"a for-profit corporation, business, organization or other entity that provides services relating to the operation and management of charter schools."
NRS 388A.095 (1) Operation for profit prohibited; incorporation as nonprofit corporation authorized.
NRS 388A.020 “Charter management organization” defined.
NRS 388A.030 “Educational management organization” defined.
Is there a cap on the number of charter schools?
We did not find information about caps on charter schools in Nevada statutes. Education Commission of the States states that Nevada does not have caps on charters.
Are charters required to provide transportation for any students?
"An application to form a charter school must include all information prescribed by the Department by regulation and:
22) A statement of whether the charter school will provide for the transportation of pupils to and from the charter school. If the charter school will provide transportation, the application must include the proposed plan for the transportation of pupils. If the charter school will not provide transportation, the application must include a statement that the charter school will work with the parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in the charter school to develop a plan for transportation to ensure that pupils have access to transportation to and from the charter school."
Can charter schools employ uncertified teachers?
At least 70% of teachers must be highly qualified. Charter schools may employ a person who is not qualified if they have a degree or certificate in field for which they teach and have at least 2 years of experience in that field.
NRS 388A.518 (1) Employment of highly qualified teachers required for certain instruction
Virtual School Choice
Do state statutes allow for full-time virtual schools?
Nevada has programs of distance education: "'Program of distance education' means a program comprised of one or more courses of distance education that is provided by the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school."
“'Distance education' means instruction which is delivered by means of video, computer, television, or the Internet or other electronic means of communication, or any combination thereof, in such a manner that the person supervising or providing the instruction and the pupil receiving the instruction are separated geographically for a majority of the time during which the instruction is delivered."
Are virtual schools required to track attendance?
"If the board of trustees of a school district provides a program of distance education, the board of trustees shall ensure that the persons who operate the program on a day-to-day basis comply with and carry out all applicable requirements, statutes, regulations, rules and policies of the school district, including, without limitation:
(c) Provisions governing the attendance and truancy of pupils, as set forth in NRS 392.040 to 392.220, inclusive."
"The board of trustees of each school district shall adopt rules that require each public school in the district to include the accounting of attendance and, if feasible, tardiness of a pupil on each report card or other report of progress of the pupil. The report card or other report of progress must indicate the number of absences, if any, for the period covered by the report card or other report of progress."
NRS 388.846 Compliance with statutes and regulations; notice by charter school to board of trustees concerning type of educational services provided.
NRS 392.118 Accounting of attendance and tardiness on report cards of pupils.
Do virtual schools have to comply with state teacher certification requirements?
Teachers of core academic subjects must be licensed or an instructor at a community college or university.
Private School Choice
Does the state have voucher programs?
Does the state have educational expense tuition tax credits or deductions?
No educational expense tax credits or deductions found. The state does have a tax credit for contributions to scholarship granting organizations.
EdChoice School Choice in America
NRS 388D.250 through NRS 388D.280: Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program
Can students use vouchers to attend religious schools?
Is there a cap on the number of students or private schools participating in voucher programs?
Are voucher students in private schools required to take any standardized tests?
Can private schools be removed from voucher programs based on performance?
Are private schools in voucher programs required to provide transportation?
Interdistrict School Choice
Does the state have interdistrict choice programs?
"The board of trustees of any school district may, with the approval of the Superintendent of Public Instruction:
(a) Admit to the school or schools of the school district any pupil or pupils living in an adjoining school district within this State or in an adjoining state when the school district of residence in the adjoining state adjoins the receiving Nevada school district; or
(b) Pay tuition for pupils residing in the school district but who attend school in an adjoining school district within this State or in an adjoining state when the receiving district in the adjoining state adjoins the school district of Nevada residence."
Are receiving schools or districts required to provide transportation to any students?
"With the approval of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the board of trustees of the school district in which the pupil or pupils reside and the board of trustees of the school district in which the pupil or pupils attend school shall enter into an agreement providing for the payment of such tuition as may be agreed upon, but transportation costs must be paid by the board of trustees of the school district in which the pupil or pupils reside:
(a) If any are incurred in transporting a pupil or pupils to an adjoining school district within the State; and
(b) If any are incurred in transporting a pupil or pupils to an adjoining state, as provided by the agreement."