June 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM - Charter Authorizing Panel Meeting
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I. Call to Order
Presenter:
Dr. Sonja Wright-McMurray, Chair, Assistant Director, Division of Career and Technical Education
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II. Consent Agenda
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
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II.1. Minutes of the May 15 Regular Charter Authorizing Panel Meeting
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Attachments:
()
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II.2. Charter Amendment Request--Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
A request by the Arkansas Lighthouse Charter School District to relocate their existing campus from the Little Rock Air Force Base to the campus of Jacksonville Lighthouse Middle School and to change the name of the school.
Attachments:
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II.3. Charter Amendment Requests- eStem Public Charter Schools
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
The eStem Charter School District is requesting location changes for three of their existing schools.
Attachments:
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II.3.a. Request to split eStem Elementary School between two locations
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
The district is requesting to split eStem Elementary School between 112 West 3rd Street in Little Rock and 123 West 3rd Street in LIttle Rock.
Attachments:
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II.3.b. Request to relocate eStem Junior High School
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
The district is requesting to relocate eStem Junior High School from 123 West 3rd Street in LIttle Rock to 400 Shall Avenue in Little Rock.
Attachments:
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II.3.c. Request to relocate eStem High School
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
The district is requesting to relocate eStem High School from 2801 S. University Avenue in LIttle Rock to 410 Shall Avenue in Little Rock.
Attachments:
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II.4. Charter Amendment Request for Iota Community Schools
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
IOTA Community Schools is requesting to change grade levels served (K-5) in 2025-26 to grade levels served (K-5 & 6-8) in 2026-27.
Attachments:
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II.5. Charter Amendment Request for Pinecrest Fayetteville
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
Pinecrest Academy Fayetteville is requesting to defer their start date to August 2026.
Attachments:
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II.6. Charter Amendment Requests for Somerset Academy Schools
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
Somerset Academy Schools is requesting to defer the opening of their 6 schools until the 2026-27 school year to find facilities. There are requests for a total of six Somerset Schools, including Elementary, Middle and High Schools in both Bentonville and Little Rock.
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II.6.a. Somerset Academy Bentonville High School
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Attachments:
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II.6.b. Somerset Academy Bentonville Middle School
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Attachments:
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II.6.c. Somerset Academy Bentonville (K-5)
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Attachments:
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II.6.d. Somerset Academy Little Rock High School
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Attachments:
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II.6.e. Somerset Academy Little Rock Middle School
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Attachments:
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II.6.f. Somerset Academy Little Rock (K-5)
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Attachments:
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III. Action Agenda
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III.1. Charter Amendment Request for Academies of Math and Science
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Academy of Math and Sciences is requesting to increase their enrollment cap from 600 students to 750 students.
Attachments:
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IV. Reports
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
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IV.1. Exalt Academy of Southwest Little Rock
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
Exalt Academy of Southwest Little Rock returns to update the Charter Authorizing Panel following their April 2025 assumption of the charter of the Arkansas Military and First Responders Academy.
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IV.2. Closures and Non-Renewals (2025-26 School Year)
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment sfaff members will update the Charter Authorizing Panel on schools that are closing and/or not renewing their charters at the end of the 2024-25 School Year.
Attachments:
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V. Adjournment
Presenter:
Dr. Sonja Wright-McMurray, Chair, Assistant Director, Division of Career and Technical Education
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