Board approves revised Options virtual charter contract to satisfy federal grant lottery rule

The Elkhorn Area School District Board of Education approved a revised contract for the Options virtual charter school after revising a provision to comply with federal charter grant requirements.

District staff explained that the U.S. Department of Education and related charter-grant terms prohibit giving resident students preferential treatment when a program reaches capacity; instead, lotteries must be open to all applicants if the grant conditions apply. The board heard that the wording change was requested by the state when it reviewed the draft contract.

A motion to approve the revised contract was made and seconded; the board approved the revision by voice vote. District staff recorded the change as the only substantive edit required for compliance with federal charter-grant stipulations; no other contractual terms were altered during the meeting.

Board members did not direct additional edits; the board's approval authorizes the district to execute the revised contract and resubmit it to the state as necessary for grant compliance.