Meeting Agenda
I. Call to Order
II. Changes to Agenda
III. Action Agenda 
III.1. Charter Schools Requesting Location Changes
III.1.a. Charter Amendment Request--Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools
III.1.b. Charter Amendment Requests-- eStem Public Charter Schools
III.1.b.1) Request to Split eStem Elementary School between Two Locations
III.1.b.2) Request to Relocate eStem Junior High School
III.1.b.3) Request to Relocate eStem High School
III.2. Charter Schools Requesting to Defer School Opening to the 2026-2027 School Year
III.2.a. Charter Amendment Request for IOTA Community Schools
III.2.b. Charter Amendment Request for Pinecrest Fayetteville
III.2.c. Charter Amendment Requests for Somerset Academy Schools
III.2.c.1) Somerset Academy Bentonville High School
III.2.c.2) Somerset Academy Bentonville Middle School
III.2.c.3) Somerset Academy Bentonville (K-5)
III.2.c.4) Somerset Academy Little Rock High School
III.2.c.5) Somerset Academy Little Rock Middle School
III.2.c.6) Somerset Academy Little Rock (K-5)
III.3. Charter Amendment Request from the Academies at Rivercrest District Conversion Charter
III.4. Process for Placement of Items on a Consent Agenda
IV. Consent Agenda
IV.1. Minutes from the June 19 Charter Authorizing Panel Meeting
V. Reports 
V.1. Preview of the State's Charter School Portfolio for the 2025-2026 School Year
V.2. 2026 Renewals
VI. Public Comments
VII. Adjournment
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting
Meeting: July 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM - Charter Authorizing Panel
Subject:
I. Call to Order
Presenter:
Dr. Sonja Wright-McMurray, Chair, Assistant Director, Division of Career and Technical Education
Subject:
II. Changes to Agenda
Presenter:
Dr. Sonja Wright-McMurray, Chair, Assistant Director, Division of Career and Technical Education
Subject:
III. Action Agenda 
Presenter:
Dr. Darrell Smith, Assistant Commissioner, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Subject:
III.1. Charter Schools Requesting Location Changes
Presenter:
Dr. Darrell Smith, Assistant Commissioner, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Subject:
III.1.a. Charter Amendment Request--Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools
Attachments:
Subject:
III.1.b. Charter Amendment Requests-- eStem Public Charter Schools
Attachments:
Subject:
III.1.b.1) Request to Split eStem Elementary School between Two Locations
Attachments:
Subject:
III.1.b.2) Request to Relocate eStem Junior High School
Attachments:
Subject:
III.1.b.3) Request to Relocate eStem High School
Attachments:
Subject:
III.2. Charter Schools Requesting to Defer School Opening to the 2026-2027 School Year
Presenter:
Dr. Darrell Smith, Assistant Commissioner, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Subject:
III.2.a. Charter Amendment Request for IOTA Community Schools
Attachments:
Subject:
III.2.b. Charter Amendment Request for Pinecrest Fayetteville
Attachments:
Subject:
III.2.c. Charter Amendment Requests for Somerset Academy Schools
Attachments:
Subject:
III.2.c.1) Somerset Academy Bentonville High School
Attachments:
Subject:
III.2.c.2) Somerset Academy Bentonville Middle School
Attachments:
Subject:
III.2.c.3) Somerset Academy Bentonville (K-5)
Attachments:
Subject:
III.2.c.4) Somerset Academy Little Rock High School
Attachments:
Subject:
III.2.c.5) Somerset Academy Little Rock Middle School
Attachments:
Subject:
III.2.c.6) Somerset Academy Little Rock (K-5)
Attachments:
Subject:
III.3. Charter Amendment Request from the Academies at Rivercrest District Conversion Charter
Presenter:
Dr. Darrell Smith, Assistant Commissioner, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
The Academies at Rivercrest requests an LEA change, a name change, and consolidation from two schools (Junior High 7-8 and High School 9-12) to one school, grades 7-12.
Attachments:
Subject:
III.4. Process for Placement of Items on a Consent Agenda
Presenter:
Dr. Darrell Smith, Assistant Commissioner, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Description:
At its work session on July 11, 2025, a seven-question approach to determine if an item should be placed on the Consent Agenda or Action Agenda was presented to and discussed by the Charter Authorizing Panel. The seven-question approach is presented at this meeting for adoption as the process to be used when determining placement of agenda items.
Attachments:
Subject:
IV. Consent Agenda
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Subject:
IV.1. Minutes from the June 19 Charter Authorizing Panel Meeting
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Attachments:
Subject:
V. Reports 
Presenter:
Freddie Scott, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Subject:
V.1. Preview of the State's Charter School Portfolio for the 2025-2026 School Year
Subject:
V.2. 2026 Renewals
Subject:
VI. Public Comments
Presenter:
Dr. Darrell Smith, Assistant Commissioner, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Subject:
VII. Adjournment
Presenter:
Dr. Sonja Wright-McMurray, Chair, Assistant Director, Division of Career and Technical Education

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