Magnet Admissions Appeal Process

Revised 1-5-17 

Parents/guardians may appeal Magnet admission decisions made by the Department of GATE Programs as outlined below:

Within 30 calendar days of the mailing date of the GATE Magnet admission decision, parent/guardian must contact the Department of GATE Programs in writing, using the WCSD GATE Magnet Appeal . This is a strict deadline. All appeal forms should be submitted to the WCSD Department of Gifted and Talented Education Programs through one of the following methods:

Mail: P.O. Box 30425, Reno, NV, 89520-3425
Email: giftedandtalented@washoeschools.net

Appeals must be based upon new assessment data (ex; MAP or Cognitive Scores administered by a licensed psychologist), which must be included with the appeal.

Properly submitted appeals will be reviewed by the GATE Department Administrative Review Team, made up of GATE administrators, GATE program coordinators, and GATE school psychologists, and/or others. A blind process review will occur within 10 school-district business days of receipt and will include investigation of reported circumstances or review of new test scores. Final eligibility status will be determined upon review.

After the appeal has been reviewed, an appeal notification letter will be mailed to the parent/guardian indicating the results of the Administrative Review Team’s decision and the student’s resulting GATE Magnet admission status.

If the Administrative Review Team determines that there is no basis for overturning its earlier decision through the appeals process, the parent/guardian may submit the WCSD GATE Magnet Appeal, in writing, to the WCSD Office of Academics within 20 calendar days of the mailing date of the appeal notification letter. This is a strict deadline. A written notification can be sent by mail or hand delivered to:
Attn: Chief Academic Officer
425 E. Ninth Street,
Reno, NV 89512.

Upon receiving the written request, the WCSD Office of Academics will verify that the request was received by the deadline and request a copy of the appeal packet from the Department of GATE Programs. This packet will include copies of the written appeal request, documentation submitted by the applicant, and a rationale for denying the appeal.

If the WCSD Office of Academics determines that the Magnet Admission Appeal Form was submitted by the designated deadline, the appeal packet and all relevant information provided by the applicant will be reviewed by a committee that includes a District Area Superintendent, Office of Academics Department Directors, and the Chief Academic Officer.

Based on the results of the committee review, the Chief Academic Officer will render a final decision within 10 school/working days. The Chief Academic Officer is the second and final appeal opportunity.

An Appeal Review Notification will be sent to the parent/guardian indicating the final decision.