SPCSA approves Citizens of the World Las Vegas charter with conditions

The State Public Charter School Authority voted to approve an application from Citizens of the World Charter Schools (CWC) to open a K-8 campus in Las Vegas, subject to a series of conditions that staff said are needed before the school may open.

The board's action followed staff presentations and a capacity interview with the applicant. The motion to approve, moved by Vice Chair Haddad Bennett and seconded by Member Salcedo, specified deadlines including a fully constituted governing board by Nov. 1, 2025; a hired school leader and an approved contract with the CWC charter management organization by Jan. 1, 2026; a fully executed lease for a facility by June 1, 2027; and evidence of at least 135 enrolled students in the June 2027 new-school enrollment audit. The motion passed on a voice vote and the authority recorded the application as approved.

Staff said the review team rated the application as meeting the standard across meeting the need, academics, operations, finance and addendum sections, but they recommended approval only with conditions to address gaps in governance, recruitment and facility planning. "The applicant has satisfied the requirements contained in NRS 388A.249," staff member Danny Peltier told the board, while also outlining the specific conditions the review team recommended.

Representatives from Citizens of the World, including CEO Laura Furlong and founding executive director Jamara Wheaton, addressed the board after the staff presentation. Furlong described the CWC network and its educational model, saying, "Our schools are built around three pillars for our students, rigorous academics, social emotional development, and learning across lines of difference." Wheaton, who said she moved to Las Vegas to lead the effort, related her personal background and leadership experience: "I was able to become a teacher because I was inspired by [my mentor]. I was able to later on become a leader." Both emphasized community engagement and a planned two-year incubation period prior to opening.

During questioning board members asked several detailed questions about recruitment and staffing. Wheaton and Furlong said early outreach has yielded interest and that they expect the two-year incubation period will allow time to build community trust, complete recruitment and solidify a facility. "Already, over 40 families have completed the intent to enroll forms," Wheaton said in response to a question about recruitment.

Staff conditions attached to the approval require the applicant to: form a governing board that meets Nevada statutory requirements by Nov. 1, 2025 and convene quarterly meetings during the extended incubation period; provide evidence of a hired school leader and a board-approved CMO contract by Jan. 1, 2026; submit an updated budget if additional grants or funding are secured; execute a lease for a facility located in the 89121 or 89122 ZIP codes by June 1, 2027; demonstrate at least 135 students enrolled in the 2027-28 audit; submit a final board-approved budget by June 8, 2027 that reflects actual enrolled pupils and facility costs; and complete the SPCSA preopening process and required trainings.

Board members also pressed the applicant on teacher compensation and retention, given cost-of-living concerns in the Las Vegas area. Furlong acknowledged budget sensitivities and said the network plans to use a mix of competitive nonwage incentives (for example, a four-day school week and robust professional development) alongside adjustments to salaries as needed during the incubation period. Member Holmes Sutton stressed the importance of "prioritizing compensating our teachers and doing so well," saying it is essential to recruitment and retention.

The authoritynoted input from Clark County School District in the record: CCSD identified historically underperforming schools in the targeted ZIP codes and provided demographic context for the area. SPCSA staff also noted the applicant had connected with local community groups and Opportunity 180 during application development.

The board approved the application with the listed conditions. Staff told the board the executive director has authority to act if the applicant does not meet the conditions by the stated deadlines.

The approval sets an extended incubation timeline; the school will remain subject to SPCSA preopening requirements, the execution of a facility lease, demonstration of minimum enrollment, and completion of all staff- and board-related conditions before it may open to students.