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 or 2:00 PM. 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, June 31, 2024
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
- Proposed graduation requirement changes and implementation dates
- Expanding the definition of flex credits
President’s Report
Highlights included:
- Board Member Updates: Attending various conferences, including UnidosUS, JAG national training events, Mountain Madness, and conferences for educators
- School Year 2024-2025: The 2024-25 school year begins as soon as next week for some districts and schools, and community members were encouraged to drive slower, be aware of crosswalks, and be mindful of school buses.
- NSHE Updates: The new NSHE representative to the State Board of Education will be Regent Stephanie Goodman. The outgoing representative outlined areas of collaboration and progress between NDE and NSHE in the last two years.
Superintendent’s Report
Highlights included:
- Nevada Department of Education Updates: New funding and partnerships to revitalize tribal language efforts, including language immersion programs and training programs; school safety conference being held in Las Vegas and Reno (Las Vegas – this week, Reno – next week)
- UNR Summer Literacy Institute: This was the inaugural event, and was successful. Programming included training, guest speakers, and collaborative learning opportunities.
- Portrait of a Nevada Learner: Five school districts and NDE staff held a co-design session in Ely.
- Early Childhood Grants: A Pre-K conference was held in Lake Tahoe area, and are working on a session in Southern Nevada
Board Approved the Consent Agenda
Consent agenda items included:
- Approval of private school new licenses and renewals
- Approval of dual credit requests
- Approvals of instructional materials appeals 2024
- Approval of the Nevada State Assessment System
The item on high school start time surveys was pulled from the consent agenda.
Explore the consent agenda.
Board Heard an Update from the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office
Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar, as well as representatives from his office, reviewed the student mock elections program available for teachers and school districts. The goal of the program is to increase civic engagement and education with Nevada students, and to get students excited about the voting process. The program includes an overview on influential elected leaders in Nevada history, lesson plans, and writing prompts.
Explore the Student Mock Election Manual.
Board Held a Public Hearing to Solicit Comments on Proposed Regulation R099-23P, Relating to the Adult and Regular High School Diploma, and Approved the Proposed Regulation
This item was brought back to the Board after the Board tabled proposed regulations on revising courses of study required for graduation from a public high school and revising requirements of the arts and humanities credit for the receipt of certain diplomas. Under the proposed change, there would be an additional arts and humanities, JROTC, or CTE credit to be earned for graduation; this would reduce the elective credits needed to graduate from six credits to five credits.
The presentation addressed feedback from school districts, including students enrolled in special education courses, English Learners, and career and technical offerings.
Explore the presentation and the public hearing packet.
Board Held a Public Hearing to Solicit Comments on Proposed Regulation R050-24P Related to the Identification of Pupils for Placement in More Rigorous Coursework, and Sent Back Language for Clarification
This proposed regulation seek to ensure pupils are identified for placement into more rigorous courses by requiring each public school to carry out a plan to identify students in grades 3-12 for placement in more rigorous coursework in math, English Language Arts, science, and social studies.
After discussion, the Board voted to send back the proposed regulation language for clarification on the language.
Explore the public hearing packet.
Board Held a Public Hearing to Solicit Comments on Proposed Regulation R131-22P Prescribing Requirements Relating to Planning and Monitoring the Education of Certain Children Who Are Admitted to a Facility Which Provides Residential Treatment for Mental Illness, and Approved the Proposed Regulation
This proposed regulation prescribes requirements around monitoring the education of children admitted to a residential treatment facility for mental illness. These requirements include convening an individualized education program meeting, monitoring the child’s placement, and participating in discharge planning for transitioning the child into a school or other educational setting. The Board approved the proposed regulation language.
Explore the public hearing packet.
Board Held a Public Hearing to Solicit Comments on Proposed Regulation R092-24 Regarding Physical Education Credits in High School, and Approved the Proposed Regulation
The Board held a public hearing on and approved amending the proposed regulation to allow high school students to receive an exemption of one credit of physical education for a competitive individual or group activity or sport.
Explore the public hearing packet.
Board Heard a Presentation on Rural Support
Staff presented an update regarding assistance offered by multiple offices within the Department of Education and how those aid mechanisms are aimed at supporting teaching and learning in rural school districts.
The Office of School Supports provides grant and fiscal supports, professional learning, and technical assistance programs, including the College and Career Readiness Frmework, Catapult Professional development, and Title II scholarships for EDU288. There are also several community partnerships and collaborations with the OSSS, including the Rural Education Achievement Program, Small Rural Schools Achievement Program, and the Nevada Commission on Mentoring Micro-Grants.
The Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment also offers grant and fiscal supports, including school-based mental health services grants and mental health worker extensions, Project Aware, and trauam-informed services in schools. Professional learning and technical assistance are provided for multi-tiered system of supports, trauma-focused training, bullying, and SEL/SEAD, among other programs.
The Office of Inclusive Education offers grants and fiscal supports, as well as professional learning and technical assistance, for special education, Indian education, and the gifted and talented program. It also partners with several community organizations.
Explore the presentation.
Board Heard a Presentation Regarding the Teacher Exit/Transfer Survey
The Board heard a presentation providing an overview of the educator survey project including information about the Teacher Exit/Transfer Survey relative to participation, response rates, and a general overview of the responses. The Board also received an update on the status of the Working Conditions Survey being piloted in July.
The Teacher Exit/Transfer Survey collected reasons teachers left their school, district/charter, state, or profession, future plans, professional background, and demographics. Nine districts and one charter district are participating. A total of 389 exiting/transferring teachers were submitted by these districts, and of those, 213 have completed the survey (55% completion rate). Additionally, 50 interviews were completed across seven districts/charter districts.
Top reasons for leaving include personal life reasons, student discipline or behavior concerns, and workload/expectations, among others. Top factors for what could have convinced them to stay include fewer student discipline problems, pay increases, smaller classes, and more time to plan or prepare.
The Educator Working Conditions Survey will gather data to inform systemic efforts to drive continuous improvements of school, district, and statewide educator working conditions. Information collected includes questions on facilities, instructional resources and support, staff autonomy, and staff leadership. The summer pilot study for measurement purposes was launched, adn the first full survey will be administered in Fall 2024.
Next steps include spreading the word about the surveys, reviewing results, and elevating communication around the results.
Explore the presentation.
Future Agenda Items
- Successful outcomes aachieved by the State Board of Education
- Dual credit programs
- Update on Read by Grade 3
- Commission on School Funding updates
- ESSER funding
- AB 469 compliance update
- At-risk definition
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, September 4, at 2:00 p.m.
