The Nevada State Public Charter School Authority voted unanimously to approve the charter application for Somerset Academy of Carson City, subject to seven conditions the authority set to ensure readiness before opening.

SPCSA staffer Karen Gordon recommended approval with conditions after the review committee rated all major sections of the application ' meeting the need, academics, operations, addendum and financial ' as "meets the standard." Gordon told the board the proposed school intends to open in Carson City serving kindergarten through second grade with a year-one enrollment target of 152 students and planned growth to K–8 with 430 students.

Gordon said the committee to form proposed to replicate the Somerset Academy model and demonstrated an understanding of Carson City demographics and community engagement. "The committee to form presented a clear and cohesive educational strategy," she said, summarizing strengths including research-based instructional practices, multi-tiered supports for students with disabilities and English learners, and plans for a school food program and custodial and health services.

Staff recommended seven conditions the school must meet before opening: provide an updated incubation-year financial plan by Nov. 1, 2025 including confirmed CSP expansion grant details and the 1% affiliation fee; provide an executed contract with Somerset Inc. by Nov. 1, 2025; hire a school leader by Jan. 1, 2026; submit a fully executed lease by June 1, 2026 for a facility within ZIP codes 89701, 89703, 89705 or 89706; submit a board-approved final budget by June 8, 2026 reflecting confirmed enrollment and facility costs; demonstrate at least 130 enrolled students at the conclusion of the June 2026 new-school enrollment audit; and complete SPCSA pre-opening requirements under NAC 3 88 a 4 10.

Representatives of the committee to form and the management organization Academica emphasized community outreach and fundraising plans. Founding-board member Maybelle Sanchez said the committee had been attending community events and conducting outreach to families and would prioritize a centrally located facility to serve the populations they identified. Committee members described active marketing at local events and plans to use a CSP expansion grant to support incubation and start-up costs; staff noted the review workbook did not include the incubation-year revenues and expenses, which must be supplied.

Vice Chair Patricia Haddad Bennett moved to approve the application "based on a finding that the applicant has met the requirements contained in NRS 3 88 a 0.2493" and listed the conditions; Board member Homestead seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The approval is conditional: the authority specified that all conditions must be met to open for the 2026-27 school year and cited NAC 3 88 a 4 10 and NAC 3 88 a 0.41 (as cited in the record) as governing pre-opening steps and condition enforcement.