The Ed-Watch series is designed to increase access to information on what decisions
are 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 Wednesdays at 9:00 AM. Click here to see the 2024 meeting materials.
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. Members of the public may provide public comment in writing via email; public comment will be accepted via email for the duration of the meeting and shared with the State Board of Education during the public comment periods. Public comment may be emailed to NVBoardED@doe.nv.gov.
Click here for a list of all State Board Members.
Wednesday, March 11, 2025
Nevada State Board of Education Meeting
Click here to see the regular SBOE meeting agenda.
Click here to watch the meeting playback.
What happened at the regular meeting?
Public Comment #1
Public comment was heard on the following subjects:
- AB469 implementation and intent
President’s Report
Highlights included:
- The board welcomed a new appointed member, Annette Dawson Owens.
- On April 3, a special board meeting will address the Read by Grade 3 assessment RFP and analysis of grad scores.
- Several board members visited schools for Nevada Reading Week and celebrated School Social Worker Week.
- Allie Galas, with the Washoe County School District, was awarded the Milken Teacher of the Year in Nevada.
- The Commission on Innovation’s recommendations have been delivered to the Legislature.
- The Board received training on the statutory obligations of the board and general procedures.
Superintendent’s Report
Highlights included:
- Nevada Reading Week was successful, productive, and celebratory, as was the Milken Award ceremony.
- Superintendent’s Student Advisory Group for Education (NV SAGE) group has met twice, and Student Member Keyes had a column published in the Las Vegas Sun.
- The Legislature is about 25% complete, with five Department bills still moving through the process. AB24 is the competency-based education bill, and legislators have requested more time to contemplate the bill and the shift it would mean to classrooms.
Board Received Informational Updates
The Board received informational updates on charter school performance for Clark County School District, Washoe County School District, Carson City School District, and the State Public Charter School Authority Board.
It also heard updates on the Educational Choice Scholarship Assessment Report, information regarding the timeline for Assessment Request for Proposal, and information regarding the State Funding for Career and Technical Education Report of Local Activities and Expenditures for FY24.
Board Approved Consent Agenda
Consent agenda items included:
- Approval of Class Size Reduction Report, FY25
- Approval of the Nevada Minimum School Bus Standards and Specifications
- Approval of Nevada School Bus Driver Training Manual
- Approval of Nevada School Bus Out of Service Criteria
Board Discussed Proposed Regulatory Initiatives
- Protections for district employees serving on boards, as there are educators serving on boards, councils, and committees
- Protections for families and caregivers in cases of bullying to ensure timeliness of information received by districts
- Re-specialization advancement for licensed educators, as educators are not always advanced on the salary schedule to reflect their advancement
Board Discussed the AB469 Subcommittee
Represents provided an update from the AB469 Subcommittee, originally established to address areas around definitions, staff and supervision, requiring mandatory training, creating procedures regarding the selection of teachers, dispute regulations, and compliance monitor regulations. Following the original Subcommittee, dispute regulation processes have been established.
The new subcommittee will comprise of Members Braxton, Hudson, and Ford, with Member Braxton serving as the chair of the Subcommittee. Additional committee members will be recommended at a future meeting. Additional discussion took place over the Subcommittee taking a big picture look at how AB469 has impacted the District.
Board Approved the Update to the Statewide Plan for the Improvement of Pupils (STIP)
The Board approved the finalized update to the STIP for 2025-2030, discussing key revisions. The STIP “provides a strategic, data-driven roadmap to ensure equitable, high-quality education for all Nevada students, fulfilling NRS requirements” (NRS 385.111-113). These revisions include:
- A new letter and executive summary
- New targets with annual performance indicators
- Initiatives with action items
- Appendices with initiative progress, frameworks for success, and academic statistics
The Board will revisit the plan in six months, given the shifting dynamics in education, policy, and resources and the need for specificity.
Explore the STIP.
Board Received and Update on the Nevada State Literacy Plan
The Board received an update on the Nevada State Literacy Plan and ELA standards framework and implementation plan for 2025, including the accessibility of the literacy standards in terms of printing and website availability. There will be several types of training, including a general Canvas course, a micro-credential Canvas course, in-person literacy specialist training, video training for administrators, and school site teacher training.
A proposed timeline was also reviewed, including preparing materials in March, training and Canvas courses going live in April, administrator training in May, and the first micro-credential cohort in June-July.
Explore the presentation.
Board Discussed the Birth – 3rd Grade (B-3) in Nevada
The Board received a presentation on the two teams selected for the National B-3 Institute in October 2024 and the state’s B-3 implementation strategies. A state team developed five B-3 belief statements and created draft action steps to advance the statewide approach. A district team created new related positions, expanded DAP and transition to kindergarten supports, and created implementation next steps to leverage existing professional learning and increase student engagement.
Explore the presentation.
Board Received an Update on the Read by Grade 3 Task Force
The Board presented a review of the Read by Grade 3 (RBG3) Task Force, including a review of the RBG3 work group updates and good cause exemptions. There are four work groups within the task force, one for each good-cause exemption and one on uniform examinations. The three types of good-cause exemptions were explored in detail and available in the presentation linked below: portfolio (where a student demonstrates proficiency through a portfolio of the pupil’s work); English learners (where a student is identified as an English learner and has received not less than two years of instruction in a program that teaches English as a second language), and special education (where students have one of several qualifiers centered on remediation, IEP administration, and participation in intensive remediation).
The uniform examination work group reviewed 16 other states with Read by Grade 3 laws with retention clauses. Many states are working with an assessment organization and not writing the assessment themselves. The assessment RFP will be heard at the next board meeting.
Explore the presentation.
Board Received an Update On the English Language Arts (ELA) Standards Framework
Staff reviewed the selection of committee members and the recommendation process for the framework. Following discussions and research, the committee issued a recommendation to not rewrite the framework, but update it. Rationale for the decision includes the standards still representing what students need to learn in ELA, alignment with other states’ standards, and alignment with common assessments. Identified areas of revision include additional explanation in the introductory text, and additional support to assist teachers with access, understanding, and implementation practices.
To better assist educators with the framework, revisions to the layout were proposed, as well as printables, revisions to the introduction, examples, and support framework. Revised content will be brought to the board for approval at a later meeting.
Explore the presentation.
Public Comment #2
Public comment was heard on the following subjects:
- Preparing for changes at the federal level impacting education
- Concerns regarding ongoing disciplinary issues
- Effective parent leadership and Student Code of Conduct
- Opportunities for community engagement during Nevada Reading Week
Future Meeting Topic Requests
Topics for future meetings included:
- Explanation of federal, state, and local roles and responsibilities, in relation to potential federal changes
- Commission on Innovation recommendations
- Adjustments to board goals
- AB469 Subcommittee and SOT discipline oversight, as well as retaliation protections
The next meeting of the State Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, April 3, at 10:30 a.m. This will be a special board meeting.
