Charter school head expects status quo on remote learning

A recommendation to change the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority’s distance learning mandate, which allows for some in-person classes, is unlikely despite a fall uptick statewide in COVID-19 cases, the authority’s executive director said Friday.

The authority’s board met virtually Friday to hear coronavirus-related updates. The board meets again at 9 a.m. this Friday and could take action on whether to make changes.

Some Las Vegas-area public charter schools switched from a hybrid model, a mix of in-person and remote instruction, to 100 percent distance learning last week following Thanksgiving break. Decisions were made by individual school boards.

“There’s a variety of decisions being made at school sites,” charter authority Executive Director Rebecca Feiden said, adding that she thinks schools have been methodical and cautious in their decision-making.

Feiden said she currently doesn’t expect to recommend any changes to in-person learning guidance for consideration at this week’s meeting, but she believes it’s important to have an action item.

Following Gov. Steve Sisolak’s “Stay at Home 2.0” recommendation and announcement last month of a three-week statewide pause, charter authority staffers have “repeatedly urged schools to exercise caution with in-person learning due to the increasing test positivity and case rate across the State,” according to Friday meeting materials. “As a result, many schools have reduced the scale of in-person learning or temporarily returned to full distance learning.”

In August, the authority’s board approved a distance learning mandate, saying schools in counties with an elevated level of COVID-19 transmission could provide in-person instruction for up to 25 percent of their students.

Last month, the board relaxed the requirement further, allowing schools to bring up to 40 percent of their students on campus at any given time.

Rebecca Feiden