The Ed-Watch series is designed to increase access to information on decisions being made regarding public education in Clark County and Nevada.
Nevada State Board of Education
What is the State Board of Education & what are they responsible for? The Nevada State Board of Education adopts regulations based on Nevada laws, which are passed down to individual school districts in Nevada to implement. The Board has 11 total (7 appointed and 4 publicly elected) members.
How often does the State Board meet? The Nevada State Board of Education meets once per month on Thursdays at 9:00AM. Click here to see the 2020 Board Meeting Schedule. Click here to visit Hope For Nevada’s #NVEd Calendar.
Can community members engage at State Board Meetings? A time for public comment is provided at the beginning (for agenda items) and at the conclusion (on any matter) of each Board meeting. There is a time limit of three minutes per speaker. Members of the community providing testimony must fill out a visitor card, available on-site the day of the meeting.
Click here for a list of all State Board Members.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Nevada State Board of Education Meeting
Click here to see the meeting agenda
What happened at this meeting?
Public Comment
Members of the public provided testimony via email submission regarding:
- Support to approve lower student-to-counselor and student-to-school psychologist ratios.
- Concerns about the impact of overcrowded classrooms on the health and safety of students and educators.
Superintendent’s Report
State Superintendent Ebert report highlights:
- The Nevada Dept of Education has released their Path Forward Plan for the reopening of schools in Nevada.
- The plan includes the formation of the Reopening of Schools Committee, which will “develop and implement a framework for a safe, efficient, and equitable return to school. This framework will be needed to assist districts and charter schools with prevention, response, and recovery strategies to meet the changing conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
- Although the Reopening of Schools Committee is not inclusive of parents, educators, and support staff– it was noted that districts and charter schools will be responsible for creating committees to create local reopening plans that adhere to guidelines from the state. Guidance will be provided to districts and charters to ensure that those stakeholders are included in their local committees.
- Star ratings as well as TSI and CSI designations from the 2018-2019 school year will carry over into the 2019-2020 school year.
Public comment: Members of the public shared concerns that there are no parents, teachers, or support professionals on the Reopening of Schools Committee.
Board Approved the Consent Agenda
Consent Agenda Highlights:
- Approval of Appointment Terms for Tonia-Holmes Sutton and Don Soifer to the State Public Charter School Authority Board
- Instructional Materials for the Carson City School District
Board Heard Update on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding
On March 27, 2020 in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,
the President signed into law the CARES Act to provide $2 trillion in
economic relief to the country, which includes funding for education.
Presentation Highlights:
- The Nevada Department of Education is receiving $117 million from the federal government.
- 90% of these funds will go to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) (districts and charter schools), and will be distributed based on FY 19 Title I distribution formulas. LEAs may use the funds for any activity authorized under the following:
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA)
- Perkins CTE Act
- Adult Education and Family Literacy Act
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
- Other allowable uses of these funds include other activities to help with the response to COVID-19 closures (including preparedness and response efforts, sanitation, professional development, and distance learning).
- The Department will hold an allowable 10% for department use related to COVID-19, and .5% for administrative costs.
- The Department received federal approval to waive all state-mandated summative testing for the 2019-2020 school year.
Click here to see the presentation.
Board Approved Amendments to Work-Based Learning Plans
The board approved amendments to work-based learning plans for the Clark County School District and the Washoe County School District due to school and business closures. The amendments will help students stay on track to receive College and Career Ready diplomas.
Click here to see the CCSD amendments.
Click here to see the WCSD amendments.
Board Approved Teach Nevada Scholarship Awards
The board approved 97 Teach Nevada scholarships for students engaged in Alternative Routes to Licensure (ARL) as well as traditional teacher training programs. The board also provided approval for the Department to award additional scholarships using any remaining balance– pending the final budget closing and FY 21 allocations.
Click here to see the presentation.
Board Approved Non-Binding Recommended Ratios for Specialized Instructional Support Personnel
Senate Bill 89 requires the State Board of Education to develop non-binding recommendations for the ratio of pupils to specialized instructional support personnel. In addition to non-binding ratios, the board directed the Department to continue collaboration with stakeholders to develop a required 15-year plan, including the exploration of using Medicaid reimbursement funds for school based health services.
The board approved the following ratios:
- School counselors 1:250
- School psychologists 1:500
- School social workers 1:250
Click here to see the presentation.
Requests for future agenda items:
- Presentation from Teach Plus on an analysis of teachers leaving the profession
- Status of Class Size Reduction post COVID-19
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