Nevada Ed-Watch: 12/8/2022

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.


Clark County School District Board of Trustees 

What is the Board of Trustees & what are they responsible for? The CCSD Trustees are publicly elected decision-makers for the school district. They are responsible for providing oversight to the Superintendent and establishing District-wide policy. Trustees are accountable to work with their communities to improve student achievement.

Click here to learn more and see a list of current Trustees
Click here to find your Trustee District

How often does the Board of Trustees meet? Trustees meet twice per month (second and fourth Thursdays) at 5 pm both virtually and at the Edward A. Greer Education Center Board Room (2832 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89121).

Click here for a full list of Trustees meetings and agendas
Click here to visit Hope For Nevada’s #NVEd Calendar

Can community members engage at Trustee meetings? Decision-making bodies benefit greatly from hearing public input and multiple perspectives. Currently, members of the public can submit comments on agenda and non-agenda items through email or voice recording. Public comment can be provided in person, via email, or via voice recording. Email comments should be submitted to Boardmtgcomments@nv.ccsd.net. To submit a voice recording on items listed on the meeting agenda, call 702-799-1166. Voice recorded public comment is limited to 1 minute 30 seconds.


Thursday, December 8, 2022

Clark County School District Board of Trustees Meeting

Click here to see the meeting agenda.
Watch the meeting playback on CCSD EduVision.

What happened at this meeting?

Trustees Approved the Consent Agenda (6-1-0). 

 Consent Agenda Highlights:

  • Grant application for American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds totaling $150 million
  • Grant application for American Rescue Plan ESSER funds to provide evidence-based summer enrichment and after school programs totaling over $12 million.
  • Interlocal agreement between CCSD and the Nevada System of Higher Education to provide electronic transcripts
  • Grant application for the Clean School Bus Rebates Program
  • Employment of unified and licensed personnel

One Trustee abstained from voting on this item.

Explore consent agenda items here.

Trustees Received an Update on Focus: 2024 Strategic Plan Regarding Career and Technical Education, International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement

Trustees received a presentation on progress relating to strategic plan goals on career and technical education (CTE), international baccalaureate (IB), and advanced placement (AP) programs in schools.

CTE highlights:

  • CTE enrollment targets were met for most student groups with the exception of white female students in Level 1 CTE programs and African American male students in Level 2 and 3 programs.
  • Challenges for CTE enrollment include a tendency to frame the programs as electives, rather than career readiness programs.
  • Level 3 CTE program completion rates fell short of goal, due in part to pandemic-related challenges.

IB highlights:

  • IB diplomas awarded in CCSD are slightly lower than average compared to similar districts across the country; the target for the 2021-22 school year was missed by 19% due in part to student participation in other programs such as AP and dual enrollment.
  • IB programming has expanded exponentially in CCSD over the years.

AP highlights:

  • AP course enrollment goals were met for most student groups with the exception of Black and Hispanic students.
  • More than 12,000 students earned a score of 3 or higher on the AP exam, slightly under the goal of 14,125.
  • 78.86% of all students enrolled in AP courses took the AP exam, which was short of the 90% goal.
  • Nevada is showing similar trends to states with similar demographics in the area of how many students pass the AP exam.

Explore the presentation

Trustees Approved an Appointment to the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) Board of Control (5-0-2) 

The NIAA Board of Control is the governing board of high school athletics and activities in Nevada. Three of the voting members of the board must be high school parents/guardians, and one must be appointed by CCSD to serve from January 18, 2023 through June 15, 2023.

Trustees approved Deanne M. Riddle, parent of a CCSD high school student/athlete, to the NIAA Board of Control.

Explore a summary of the application process and applicants.
Explore submitted applications

Trustees Approved Endorsing iNVest 2023 (7-0) 

iNVest 2023 is the Nevada Association of School Superintendents’ platform to improve public education in Nevada for the upcoming legislative session. The 2023 priorities include increasing per-pupil funding, fully funding assigned weights to provide appropriate and equitable levels of support, modernizing educational statutes, additional funding for school technology, school safety measures, and funding dedicated exclusively to school facilities.

Learn more about iNVest here.

Trustees Approved the 2022-2023 Amended Final Budget (7-0)

Highlights from the presentation include:

  • The Pupil-Centered Funding Plan (PCFP) was fully implemented for this budget year, but has presented challenges related to disproportionate fixed costs, staff costs, and students or facilities with special needs per school.
  • A vast majority of school funding comes from state education fund.
  • There was a decline in revenues of around $32 million due in part to lower enrollment as well as an increase in expenditures as a result of utility costs and inflation.

Explore the budget presentation and the amended final budget.

Trustees Conducted a Public Hearing On and Approved an Amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Between CCSD and the Education Support Employee Association (ESEA) Regarding the Provision of Improved Services (6-1-0)  

Trustees approved an amendment to the MOA between CCSD and ESEA which modifies language regarding the training and coverage of First Aid Safety Assistants and School Health Assistants. This amendment has a fiscal impact of $1 million. 

One Trustee abstained from voting on this item.

Explore the amendment and the fiscal impacts summary

Trustees Conducted a Public Hearing On and Approved the Memorandum of Agreement Between CCSD and the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-Technical Employees (CCASAPE) Regarding the Summer Learning Program 2023 (7-0)  

Trustees approved a negotiated agreement between CCSD and CCASAPE to provide labor resources for the summer learning program from May 30, 2023 – June 16, 2023. This agreement has a fiscal impact of $2.016 million. 

Explore the agreement and the fiscal impacts summary

Trustees Conducted a Public Hearing On and Approved the Memorandum of Agreement Between CCSD and the Clark County Education Association (CCEA) Regarding the Summer Learning Program 2023 (6-1-0)

 Trustees approved a negotiated agreement between CCSD and CCEA to provide labor resources for the summer learning program from May 30, 2023 – June 16, 2023. This agreement has a fiscal impact of $56 million. 

One Trustee abstained from voting on this item.

Explore the agreement and the fiscal impacts summary

Trustees Conducted a Public Hearing On and Approved the Memorandum of Agreement Between CCSD and the Education Support Employees Association (ESEA) Regarding the Movement of Certain Positions to 12-Month Contracts (6-1-0)  

Trustees approved an MOA between CCSD and ESEA to provide amend the positions of School Office Managers as assigned to elementary schools, and Administrative School Secretaries as assigned to secondary schools, to 12-month contracts. This agreement has a fiscal impact of $2 million. 

One Trustee abstained from voting on this item.

Explore the agreement and the fiscal impacts summary

Public Comment 

Members of the public shared comments regarding: 

  • CTE drop out rates and improvement suggestions
  • Opportunity of services for dental hygiene and need for MOA approval
  • SPED spending and processes
  • More stringent punishment for bullying
  • School staffing shortages
  • Revision of substitute pay structure
  • Change to public comment procedures
  • Board transitions and farewells

The next Meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for January 12, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. 

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Nevada Ed-Watch 1/30/20

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, January 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 regarding: 

  • Support for suicide prevention policies to address the social emotional needs of students
  • Request for the State Superintendent to look into the technical issues with HCM, the Clark County School District’s payroll system
  • Support for advisor pay for Career and Technical Student Organizations

Board Approved the Consent Agenda:

Consent Agenda Highlights:

  • Approval of state funding for a Fiscal Year 2019 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Report of Local Activities and Expenditures
  • Approval of the CTE Course Catalog for the 2020-2021 school year 
  • Approval of regulations adopted by the Commission on Professional Standards (R076-19 and R090-19)

Board Recognized Four (4) Nevada Teachers Who Received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science 

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors by the United States government, specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teaching.

The following Nevada educators were honored with the award: 

  • Kristen Taylor, ATEC (Las Vegas)
  • Heather Witt, KO Knudsen (Las Vegas)
  • Kristine Donahue, Hunsberger Elementary School (Reno)
  • Suzette Champagne, Jessie Beck Elementary School (Reno) 

Click here to see the presentation.

Board Heard a Presentation About Nevada Career and Technical Student Organizations  

Nevada students participating in the Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) listed below presented on the benefits of CTSOs, including increases in college and career readiness.  

  • Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
  • Nevada DECA
  • Skills USA Nevada
  • Family, Career and Community Leaders of America 
  • HOSA – Future Health Professionals of Nevada
  • FFA (Agriculture Education)

The presentation included information on the United States Senate Youth Program for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. 40 Nevada students applied for the program, and 2 were accepted (Akaash Krishnan of Davidson Academy in Reno and Jared Stone of Meadows School in Las Vegas).

Click here to view the presentation. 

Superintendent’s Report

State Superintendent Ebert shared the following updates:

  • The statewide listening tour is complete. Major themes from the listening tour include access to Career and Technical Education, parent engagement, and transparency in school funding. 
  • On February 20th at 2pm, the Commission on School Funding is holding a meeting to hear from the public about funding weights for English Language Learners, students receiving special education services, gifted students, and “At Risk” students. Members of the public can also submit written comment to the commission. 
  • Lyon and Lincoln County School Districts received Silver State Governance Training.
  • Vice President Newburn provided a presentation to the Interim Education Committee about the commission on school funding, the implementation of SB475, and class size reduction. 

The Board Heard an Overview of the Statewide Plan for the Improvement of Pupils (STIP) 

The STIP outlines goals related to the Nevada Department of Education’s (NDOE) role in improving student outcomes. NDOE staff presented a framework for the development of STIP goals. The board discussed the need for STIP goals to be realistic and measurable.

The 2025 STIP Goals are as follows:

Click here to see the presentation.

The Board Heard a Presentation on Model Policies for the Prevention of Suicide

Senate Bill 209 of the 2019 Nevada Legislative Session requires each Local Education Agency (LEA) to adopt policies for the prevention of suicide among students in grades 7-12. The Office for Safe and Respectful Learning Environments presented an overview of model policies for the prevention of suicide. 

Click here to see the presentation.

Click here to see the model policy. 

Board Heard a Presentation on Computer Science Education

The board heard an overview of Computer Science Education in Nevada– which included legislation related to computer science, student enrollment in computer science programs by race and ethnicity, and Fiscal Year 2019 funding allocations.

The Computer Science Summit 2020 is being held February 8-9th in Reno, and March 28-29th in Las Vegas.

Click here to see the presentation. 

Click here to see the Nevada Computer Science Strategic Plan.

Board Approved Recommendations for Great Teaching and Leading Fund Allocations

Below is a snapshot of the approved Great Teaching and Leading Fund allocations selected out of 27 applicants.

Click here to see the presentation.

The Board Heard a Presentation on the English Language Development Standards Framework

The board heard an update on the development, content, and plans to disseminate information related to the English Language Development Standards Framework. The purpose of the framework is to guide educators through delivering instruction that aligns language development with grade-level academic content.

Click here to see the presentation.

Requests for future agenda items: 

  • Hear from districts about their implementation of Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
  • Access district-level data on class sizes

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Nevada Ed-Watch 11/14/19

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 2019 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, November 14, 2019
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 regarding:

  • Support for the Perkins V State Plan for strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Nevada
  • Support for teacher incentive funds to be distributed this fiscal year 

Board Approved the Consent Agenda

Consent Agenda Highlights:

President’s Report

The President congratulated two Nevada teachers who were recognized with Milken Educator Awards– Ben Nguyen (Clark County School District) and Nicolas Jacques (Carson City School District).

Milken Educator Awards honor early- to mid-career educators with strong potential for professional and policy leadership– as evidenced by effective and innovative instructional practices, student learning results, and other criteria.

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Ebert provided the following updates:

  • Acknowledgment of Nevada Department of Education Staff members for helping  districts and schools implement the Nevada Educator Performance Framework.
  • Gratitude for those who have been involved in the statewide listening tours, including students. 
  • Acknowledgment of the National Board Certification program for strengthening teacher skills. 

Board Heard a Presentation on the 2018-2019 Nevada Educator Performance Framework  (NEPF)

The Teachers and Leaders Council presented the results of the 2018-2019 Nevada Educator Performance Framework (NEPF). Board members discussed ways to ensure the NEPF is a true representation of teacher and administrator performance, and that the tool continues to be used as a growth and development tool. 

2018-2019 Teacher Evaluation Results:

  • Ineffective: 0.16% 
  • Developing: 1.62%
  • Effective: 69.92%
  • Highly Effective: 27.06%

2018-2019 Administrator Evaluation Results: 

  • Ineffective: 0%
  • Developing: 0.73%
  • Effective: 73.92%
  • Highly Effective: 25.35%

The presentation also included results for Other Licenced Education Professionals (OLEP), which includes Audiologists, School Counselors, School Nurses, School Psychologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Teacher Librarians.

The board voted to update exigent score ranges for school audiologists in the 2019-2020 school year. All other score ranges will remain the same.

Click here to see the presentation

Board Approved the Fund Distribution Process and Amounts for Teacher Incentives

Senate Bill 555 (SB555) allows for districts to apply to the Department of Education to receive funding for incentivising teachers to teach in Title 1 schools. The board approved the process for fund distribution. 

Below is an outline of the incentives.

New Hire Teacher Incentives:

New hire teachers are employed for the first time at a District or State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) Title I or underperforming school for the 2019-2020 school year. 

  • Total number of teachers districts requested funds for: 1,270.5
  • Total available funds for the biennium: $2,500,000
  • Total available funds for Fiscal Year 2020: $1,250,000
  • Total amount of funds requested by districts: $3,295,000
  • Actual teacher incentive amount for FY20: $983 per teacher 

Transfer Teacher Incentives: 

Transfer teachers were employed at a District or SPCSA non-Title I or underperforming school (for the 2018-2019 year) and TRANSFERRED to a District or SPCSA Title I or underperforming school for the 2019-2020 school year.

  • Total number of teachers districts requested funds for: 834
  • Total available funds for the biennium: $2,500,000
  • Total available funds for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20):  $1,250,000
  • Total amount of funds requested by districts for FY20: $2,102,500 
  • Actual teacher incentive amount for FY20:  $1,498 per teacher 

Current Teacher Incentives: 

Current teachers were employed at a District or SPCSA Title I or underperforming school (for the 2018-2019 school year) and are CURRENTLY employed at a District or SPCSA Title I or underperforming school for the 2019-2020 school year.

  • Total number of teachers districts requested funds for: 7,559
  • Total available funds for the biennium: $5,000,000
  • Total available funds for Fiscal Year 2020: $2,500,000
  • Total amount of funds request: $7,644,966
  • Actual teacher incentive amount for FY20: $330 per teacher

The board approved a request to the Interim Finance Committee to move Transfer funds to Current funds. This request, if approved, would bring the total Current teacher incentive amount from $330 to $382 (an additional $52). 

Click here to see the presentation.

Board Heard a Presentation on the Perkins V State Plan

Staff from the Office of Career Readiness, Adult Learning & Education Options provided an overview of the structure of the Nevada Perkins V State Plan to strengthen Career and Technical Education (CTE). The plan emphasizes access for all students to high-quality CTE programs, employer engagement, high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations and industries, and state and local flexibilities. 

Click here to see the structure outline. 

Board Heard an Update on the Commission on School Funding 

Updates included:

  • Election of Guy Hobbs as Vice Chair of the Commission 
  • Two new administrative positions for the Commission have been filled 
  • The Interim Finance Committee approved a request of $900,000 to contract with subject matter experts to assist the Commission. Click here to read about this in the Nevada Independent. 

The State Board of Education is required to establish regulations for the methodology of setting funding weights, cost adjustment factors, and administrative caps. 

Click here to learn more.

Upcoming Commission meetings: 

  • December 19-20, 2019
  • January 9-10, 2020
  • February 20-21, 2020
  • March 19-20, 2020
  • April 16-17, 2020
  • May 14-15, 2020
  • June 11-12, 2020

Board Heard a Presentation on the Status of the Nevada Ready Pre-K program

Presentation highlights: 

  • The Preschool Development Grant has served 8,055 children across 11 counties from 2016 to 2019. In 2018-2019, about 10% of those children served have disabilities. 
  • Out of the 89 preschool centers rated via the Quality Rating Improvement System, there were:
    • 5 one-star centers
    • 23 two-star centers
    • 13 three-star centers
    • 28 four-star centers
    • 20 five-star centers
  • 41 individuals received TEACH Nevada grants for their higher education studies in Early Childhood Education 
  • The Brigance Screening Assessment is being implemented in all early childhood centers. 

Click here to see the presentation.


Potential Future Agenda Items:

  • Discuss the Census 2020 Complete Count and its impact on the education system

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