Hearing could lead to closure of Nevada online charter school

By Meghin Delaney Las Vegas Review-Journal

8 years ago

Parents and students, including Nevada Connections Academy student, Caitlin Droegemueller, 7, second left, and her mother Dianna Thompson, second right, attend the State Public Charter School Authority meeting, Thursday, May 25, 2017, in Las Vegas. Bizuayehu Tesfaye Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye

Nevada Connections Academy student, Lacey King, 10, of Pahrump, delivers her comments during the State Public Charter School Authority meeting, Thursday, May 25, 2017, in Las Vegas. Bizuayehu Tesfaye Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye

Laura Sanda, special education teacher at Nevada Connections Academy, delivers her comments during the State Public Charter School Authority meeting, Thursday, May 25, 2017, in Las Vegas. Bizuayehu Tesfaye Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye

Nevada Connections Academy student, Caitlin Droegemueller, 7, holds a sign as her mother Dianna Thompson, delivers her comments during the State Public Charter School Authority meeting, Thursday, May 25, 2017, in Las Vegas. Bizuayehu Tesfaye Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye

Adam Johnson, chairman of the State Public Charter School Authority, right, and Jason Guinasso, board member, listen as Parents and students deliver their comments during the board meeting, Thursday, May 25, 2017, in Las Vegas. Bizuayehu Tesfaye Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye

The Nevada State Public Charter School Authority embarked Thursday on a public hearing to decide the fate of the Nevada Connections Academy online charter school.

Nevada Connections Academy was first put on notice in September that the authority would consider closing it because of poor graduation rates.

The seven-member authority board that oversees charters in the state can shutter or restructure any schools whose graduation rate falls below 60 percent.

Officials at the school have protested the decision, saying using the single data point doesn’t fully capture what the school is able to do for students.

The hearing began Thursday in Las Vegas and Northern Nevada, with more than three hours of public comment. The authority then opened up a more formal public hearing, where lawyers for each side will present their cases.

No decision was reached Thursday and the meeting will continue into Friday and possibly Saturday before a decision is handed down.

Contact Meghin Delaney at 702-383-0281 or mdelaney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @MeghinDelaney on Twitter.