Guinn backs charter schools in state of state speech

But lawmakers and state Department of Education officials see several ways to revise the cumbersome law governing such schools, which operate independently of local school districts.

To date, the state has received and approved only one formal application to open a charter school - in part because of the restrictive law and the lack of any start-up money from the state. There's limited federal start-up funding.

In his speech, Guinn proposed simplifying the application process and eliminating a statewide cap of 21 charter schools. He didn't propose any start-up money.

Charter committees are required to secure a building and liability insurance before a charter school contract is approved by the state Board of Education. But lenders want approval of a charter school contract before approving a loan.

This was the problem facing Sandy Valley, a community in rural Clark County, when it tried to form a charter high school. In response, the local school board revised its regulations and introduced interim charter school status.

Supporters of I Can Do Anything (No Limit) High School, the state's only charter school which opened in Washoe County in 1998, were lucky, said school principal Margaret Williamson.

A realtor helped the school find a site and rolled the cost of renovating the building into the lease payment.

Nevada's charter school law also requires that 75 percent of teachers be licensed and that the school must operate under the school district's collective bargaining agreement for the first six years.

Neither element was included in the charter school bill that was introduced in the Senate, said Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks. The current legislation is a compromise between Senate and Assembly proposals.

"I would like to see us revert back to that Senate bill," Washington said. "It will be my No. 1 priority in the session."

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