NRS 388A.220 Application to sponsor charter schools; limitation on enrollment growth of certain new or expanding charter schools; preparation of evaluation of academic needs of pupils in geographic area served by sponsor. [Effective July 1, 2026.]

872 words·~4 min read·/nv/chapter-388a-charter-schools/388a-220-2·

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

1. The board of trustees of a school district may apply to the Department for authorization to sponsor charter schools within the school district in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Department pursuant to NRS 388A.105 or 388A.110 . An application must be approved by the Department before the board of trustees may sponsor a charter school. Not more than 180 days after receiving approval to sponsor charter schools, the board of trustees shall provide public notice of its ability to sponsor charter schools and solicit applications for charter schools.

2. The State Public Charter School Authority shall sponsor charter schools whose applications have been approved by the State Public Charter School Authority pursuant to NRS 388A.255 . Except as otherwise provided by specific statute, if the State Public Charter School Authority sponsors a charter school, the State Public Charter School Authority is responsible for the evaluation, monitoring and oversight of the charter school.

3. A college or university within the Nevada System of Higher Education may submit an application to the Department to sponsor charter schools in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Department pursuant to NRS 388A.105 or 388A.110 . An application must be approved by the Department before a college or university within the Nevada System of Higher Education may sponsor charter schools.

4. A city or county may submit an application to the Department to sponsor charter schools in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Department pursuant to NRS 388A.105 or 388A.110 . An application must be approved by the Department before a city or county may sponsor charter schools. A city or county:

(a)Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, may not sponsor a new charter school or allow an existing charter school sponsored by the city or county to increase enrollment or operate an additional campus of an existing charter school sponsored by the city or county if the total number of pupils enrolled in charter schools sponsored by the city or county is 7 percent or more of the number of pupils enrolled in public schools in the city or county other than charter schools that are not sponsored by the city or county. A city or county may sponsor a new charter school or allow an existing charter school sponsored by the city or county to increase enrollment or operate an additional campus of an existing charter school sponsored by the city or county if:

(1)The city or county is located in a school district that has been designated as a focus school district pursuant to subsection 1 of NRS 385A.915 ; and

(2)The new charter school, increase in enrollment of an existing charter school or operation of an additional campus of an existing charter school will serve pupils residing in the zone of attendance of a public school that is designated as a focus or persistently priority school pursuant to NRS 385A.745 or 388.113 , respectively, or that is identified as overcrowded.

(b)May only sponsor a charter school which is located entirely within the incorporated area of the city or the unincorporated area of the county, as applicable.

5. The total enrollment growth of a charter school that is new or expanding pursuant to subsection 4 may account for an increase in enrollment at the charter school of not more than 15 percent.

6. The board of trustees of a school district, a college or university within the Nevada System of Higher Education or a city or county may enter into an agreement with the State Public Charter School Authority to provide technical assistance and support in preparing an application to sponsor a charter school and planning and executing the duties of a sponsor of a charter school as prescribed in this section.

7. Before a board of trustees of a school district, a college or university within the Nevada System of Higher Education or a city or county that is approved to sponsor charter schools approves an application to form a charter school, the board of trustees, college or university or city or county, as applicable, shall prepare, in collaboration with the Department and, to the extent practicable, the school district in which the proposed charter school will be located and any other sponsor of a charter school located in that school district, an evaluation of the demographic information of pupils, the academic needs of pupils and the needs of any pupils who are at risk of dropping out of school in the geographic areas served by the sponsor.

8. On or before January 31 of each year, the State Public Charter School Authority shall prepare, in collaboration with the Department and, to the extent practicable, the board of trustees of each school district in this State and any other sponsor of a charter school in this State, an evaluation of the demographic information of pupils, the academic needs of pupils and the needs of any pupils who are at risk of dropping out of school in this State.