Tag: equity and diversity

Nevada Ed-Watch 12/10/2020

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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, December 10, 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: 

  • Concerns about new criteria for substitute teachers.
  • Concerns about the risks associated with in-person learning for educators.

President’s Report 

President Wynn expressed gratitude to outgoing members of the State Board of Education, Dawn Miller, Robert Blakely, and Kevin Melcher. She also welcomed new and incoming members:  

  • Mike Walker, NV Association of School Boards Representative
  • Tim Hughes, District 1 
  • Katie Coombs, District 2 
  • Rene Cantu, District 4 

Beginning in 2021, President Wynn, who has served on the board since 2012, will no longer serve on the board. Vice President Newburn has been appointed by Governor Sisloack to transition to the role of Board President. 

Click here to read about this from 8 News Now.

Superintendent’s Report

State Superintendent Ebert report highlights:

  • Seven school districts and 21 SPCSA schools are fully engaged with a COVID-19 testing program. Additionally, all districts have received an allocation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 
  • The Commission on School Funding has shifted its focus from formula components to the definition of optimal funding. They are currently developing a document that outlines their work to date for further transparency with the public. 
  • The Department’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session are Equity, Alignment, and Recovery. The Department is currently reviewing bill drafts related to licensure and standards language clean-up, updated emergency plans for education, and other priorities that do not have a fiscal note. 

Click here to see the full report. 

Board Approved Consent Agenda 

Consent agenda highlights: 

Board Heard Testimony on State Improvement Plan 

In accordance with NRS 385.040(2), which mandates that at least one State Board meeting include a discussion with school and education decision-makers to discuss goals and benchmarks, partners and stakeholders provided testimony to the board on the Department’s work as well as the State Improvement Plan. Each commenter shared their commitment to students and their appreciation for the Department’s support throughout the pandemic. Commenters also shared the need to continue to partner closely with the Department on accountability and mental health supports. Commenters included: 

  • Chancellor Melody Rose, Nevada System of Higher Education
  • President Melena Raymond, Washoe County School District Board of Trustees 
  • Superintendent Kristen McNeil,  Washoe County School District
  • Trustee Jeff Church,  Washoe County School District Board of Trustees

Board Heard Update on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workgroup 

At their November meeting, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Workgroup received presentations from the Department on self-reported demographic data of Department staff and competency-based education. Multiple school districts throughout Nevada are piloting these models to give students the opportunity to advance at their own pace. The DEI Workgroup will receive further updates on the implementation and efficacy of competency-based learning. Board members discussed their interest in further exploring competency-based education models.

Click here to view the DEI Workgroup Agenda. 

Click here to view the presentation on Competency-Based Education.

Board Heard Update on 2019-2020 Graduation Rates
In response to COVID-19, the Department provided updated guidance on graduation requirements to districts and the charter authority related to attendance, assessment, and guidance waived the requirement for participation in civics assessment for the class of 2020. The Nevada graduation rate for 2020 is 82.57%, a two-point decrease from 2019 (84.11%). Students who identify as Asian had the highest average graduation rates at 93.4%. Students who identify as Black/African American had the lowest average graduation rate at 69.5%. 

Board members discussed the increase in the number of students receiving the College and Career Ready Diploma and the need to ensure that all students have equitable access to the necessary courses in order to receive this diploma. They also discussed the need to validate that students who receive this diploma are indeed prepared for college and career. 

Click here to view the full presentation. 

Board and Stakeholders Engaged in Interactive Workshop 

Representatives from Nevada Succeeds, The Regional Professional Development Program, and Department staff facilitated an interactive workshop with Board members and education stakeholders to engage as thought partners on the priorities and direction of the Department. Participants reviewed and discussed the Department’s definition of equity, what it means for students to be “globally prepared,” and reflections on developing and implementing a statewide graduate profile. 

Click here to view the presentation.

Click here to view the discussion notes. 

Board Heard Update on 2019-2020 ACT Scores 

The ACT is used as Nevada’s college and career readiness assessment, assessing English Language Arts (ELA) and Math proficiency for high school students in grade 11. In Nevada, students are considered proficient if they receive a 17 or higher on the ACT. At most colleges and universities, students must receive a 22 or higher on the ACT to take non-remedial, credit-bearing college courses. 

The average ACT score for all Nevada students in 2019-2020 is 17.8, a slight increase from 17.6 for the 2018-2019 school year. ACT scores varied widely across racial/ethnic subgroups groups with a difference of 5.9 points between the highest scoring and lowest scoring subgroups: Asain students (21.3) and Black students (15.4). 

Additional data highlights: 

  • ELA Proficiency
    • All students: 48.8%
    • American Indian/Alaskan Native: 36.7% 
    • Asian: 69.7% 
    • Black 30.3% 
    • Hispanic: 37.4% 
    • Pacific Islander 45.2% 
    • 2+ Race: 58% 
    • White: 63.9% 
    • FRL: 37.1% 
    • IEP: 8.8% 
    • English Learners: 4.4% 
  • Math Proficiency
    • All students: 25.8% 
    • American Indian/Alaskan Native: 17%
    • Asian: 49.5% 
    • Black 10% 
    • Hispanic: 15.3% 
    • Pacific Islander 19.8% 
    • 2+ Race: 31.8% 
    • White: 38.8% 
    • FRL: 16.4% 
    • IEP: 3.1% 
    • English Learners: 1.9%

Click here to see the full presentation. 

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Nevada Ed-watch 12/05/2020

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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.

State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA)

What is the SPCSA & what are they responsible for? Considered one of Nevada’s school districts, the SPCSA sponsors and oversees public charter schools. The Authority consists of seven appointed members responsible for overseeing educational and operational standards, and holding sponsored schools accountable to the academic achievement of students. 

How often does the SPCSA Board meet? The SPCSA typically meets one a month, generally on Fridays. 

Click here for SPCSA meeting schedule and materials.

Can community members engage at SPCSA Board Meetings? While all meetings of the SPCSA are typically held publicly at the Nevada Department of Education building in Carson City and the Nevada Department of Education building in Las Vegas (1st floor boardroom), all meetings are now held virtually due to the COVID-19 crisis. Members of the public may view the meeting online via the link on the SPCSA’s Public Notice web page and the agenda and any supporting materials can be found here. Public comment may be given on any agenda item at the beginning of the meeting, or public comment regarding any matter that is SPCSA-related may be given at the conclusion of each Board meeting. Members of the community giving public comment can utilize the following conference call line: 1-312-584-2401; extension 3952176# with a time limit of three minutes per speaker. Alternatively, public comment may be submitted in writing to publiccomment@spcsa.nv.gov, and any such public comment received prior to the meeting will be provided to the Authority and included in the written minutes of the meeting.

Click here for a list of all SPCSA Members.Click here for a list of all SPCSA sponsored schools.

Friday, December 4, 2020

State Public Charter School Authority Board Meeting

Click here to see the meeting agenda

What happened at this meeting? 

Members of the public provided comment regarding: 

  • Requests to allow charter schools to return to full in person learning
  • Concerns from teachers about returning to full in person learning

Members of the public also submitted public comment online:

Click here to view Public Comment #1
Click here to view Public Comment #2
Click here to view Public Comment #3
Click here to view Public Comment #4
Click here to view Public Comment #5
Click here to view Public Comment #6
Click here to view Public Comment #7
Click here to view Public Comment #8
Click here to view Public Comment #9
Click here to view Public Comment #10
Click here to view Public Comment #11
Click here to view Public Comment #12
Click here to view Public Comment #13
Click here to view Public Comment #14

SPCSA Executive Director’s Report: 

Report Highlights: 

  • In Person Learning Update
    • Director Feiden does not currently anticipate any changes to the in person learning guidance.  Following the Governor’s order for Nevadans to voluntarily stay home and a rise in COVID-19 cases, many schools have reduced the scale of in person learning or temporarily returned to full distance learning. Ongoing supports are being provided to schools through weekly meetings, pass-through grants, and subsidized internet access for families.  Click here to see the full update.
  • Focus on Equity
    • The SPCSA has made progress towards equity initiatives, including a survey for school leaders regarding diversity and inclusion training, updates to the new charter school application to include efforts to close opportunity gaps and disproportionate discipline practices, and reports from schools on their practices to combat systemic racism. Board members requested additional information on teacher, school leader, and board diversity of SPCSA sponsored schools. Board members also requested to further discuss the implementation of a common application to support more equitable conditions for students and families.  Click here to see the full update.
  • Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Pilot Program and Project Award Grant
    • The Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is a framework that schools use to provide targeted support to struggling students. Nine SPCSA schools have opted into an MTSS program in collaboration with UNR.
  • SPCSA Annual Initiatives 
    • The SPCSA is focused on three main goals for the 2020-2021 school year: provide families with access to high-quality schools, ensure every student succeeds, and increase the diversity of the student population. The Board heard an update on progress towards these goals, including the nine associated initiatives. Click here to see the full update. 

Board Heard Strategic Plan Development Update 

Adam Johnson, Executive Director of Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus (DPAC), shared an overview of Democracy Prep Network’s timeline for the development of a strategic plan grounded in equity and anti-racism. This development includes a review of all DPAC campus systems and structures to ensure alignment with the needs of the school community and all students. 

Click here to see the presentation.

Board Heard Presentation from Charter School Association of Nevada

The Charter School Association of Nevada (CSAN) shared information on the Association’s role in representing district and state sponsored schools. Their current projects include contracting with media firms to tell the stories of their member schools, outreach to elected officials and community leaders, and monitoring government agencies.

Board Heard Update on SPCSA Student Discipline Data 

SPCSA staff provided an overview of discipline data and findings, collected by the Nevada Department of Education. Overall, SPCSA had a lower rate of incidents resulting in suspension compared to the state average. Similar to state and previous data, SPCSA students identifying as Black/African American or male — including those with a disability — are more likely to be involved in an incident resulting in a suspension compared to their peers.

Click here to see the presentation.

Board Approved Charter School Contract Amendments:

  • Mater Academy of Northern Nevada – Addition of distance education component: The Board approved student credit retrieval and advancement of coursework through supplemental distance education options not currently offered in brick-and-mortar school for middle school students. Click here to see the full recommendation memo.
  • Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada – Addition of distance education component: The Board approved credit advancement or retrieval for students for supplemental courses. SPCSA staff recommend approval with conditions including year end report of student performance and a student enrollment summary and courselog. Click here to see the full recommendation memo. 
  • Somerset Academy of Las Vegas – Facilities financing and acquisition: The Board approved an amendment for the Somerset Academy to gain ownership of the Aliante and Sky Canyon campus, which they currently occupy. This does not affect approved enrollment. SPCSA staff recommend approval with conditions on bond reporting. Click here to see the full recommendation memo.
  • Sports Leadership and Management Academy – Addition of dual credit: The Board conditionally approved the addition of a dual credit program that provides both high school and college credits to students for successful completion of courses. Click here to see the full recommendation memo.

Board Heard Update on SPCSA Financial Performance Framework Ratings

The framework is used to determine if a school is financially viable and to inform high-stakes decisions. SPCSA Staff provided an overview of the development of the framework, and associated indicators, approved in January of 2019. As of December 4, audits have been performed. Final data will be presented to the Board on January 22, 2021.

Click here to download the presentation.

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Nevada Ed-Watch 11/06/2020

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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.

State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA)

What is the SPCSA & what are they responsible for? The SPCSA sponsors and oversees public charter schools across the State of Nevada. The Authority consists of nine appointed members responsible for overseeing educational and operational standards, and holding sponsored schools accountable to the academic achievement of students.

How often does the SPCSA Board meet? SPCSA members meet once monthly– on Fridays.

Click here for SPCSA meeting schedule and materials.

Can community members engage at SPCSA Board Meetings? All meetings are held publicly at the Nevada Department of Education building in Carson City and the Nevada Department of Education building in Las Vegas (1st floor boardroom). Members of the public are invited to attend at either location. A time for public comment is provided at the conclusion of each agenda item and at the conclusion 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.

Alternatively, public comment may be submitted in writing at publiccomment@spcsa.nv.gov, and any such public comment received prior to the meeting will be provided to the Authority and included in the written minutes of the meeting.

Click here for a list of all SPCSA Members.

Click here for a list of all SPCSA sponsored schools.

Friday, November 6, 2020

State Public Charter School Authority Board Meeting

Click here to see the meeting agenda

What happened at this meeting? 

Members of the public submitted comment over the phone regarding: 

  • Concerns about reopening guidance
  • Concerns that families opting for in-person instruction are unable to send all of their children to school due to the in-person learning limitation of 25%

Members of the public also submitted public comment online:

Click here to view Public Comment #1
Click here to view Public Comment #2
Click here to view Public Comment #3
Click here to view Public Comment #4
Click here to view Public Comment #5
Click here to view Public Comment #6
Click here to view Public Comment #7
Click here to view Public Comment #8

SPCSA Executive Director’s Report: 

Report Highlights: 

  • 2020 Summer New Charter School Application Cycle
    • SPCSA is considering four new charter school applications from the 2020 summer application cycle. Additionally, a committee has assembled to review the application for TEACH Las Vegas.
  • Initiatives related to Serving All Students Equitably
    • In October 2020, SPCSA made updates to the new charter application which includes requests for information on equity initiatives. The update includes asking schools about their efforts to close opportunity gaps and address disproportionate discipline practices, as well as provide applicant and discipline data by subgroup.

      Separately, SPCSA convened its community working group to address equity. The working group initiatives include sending a survey to schools about their Diversity & Equity training programs, preparing data to help the SPCSA look at equity through the lens of enrollment, discipline, and graduation rates, and making equity data more readily available to families on the SPCSA website. 
  • SPCSA staffing update
    • An SPCSA Administrative Assistant resigned over the summer. The Authority has hired Patricia Malloy to fill the role and expressed excitement for Malloy’s addition to the team.
  • Validated demographic enrollment data for SPCSA-sponsored charter schools for the 2019-2020 school year
    • A student enrollment count must be conducted and submitted to the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) annually. SPCSA has successfully sent enrollment data to the (NDE) for SPCSA-sponsored schools. NDE is still finalizing the data for release. SPCSA will present the data at the December board meeting.
  • Preview of the 2021 Legislative Session
    • The 81st Legislative Session will begin Feb 1, 2021. In the interim, SPCSA staff is working with the Governor’s office to prepare for the upcoming session and have participated in meetings with the Legislative Committee on Education. In accordance with procedures set up by the Governor’s office, SPCSA has submitted a proposed bill draft request that seeks to create alignment with existing statutes and regulations related to three critical areas of charter school sponsors. The proposal also outlines technical changes to ensure consistent language and structure.

Click here to view the Legislative Session memo.

Board Approved Update on COVID-19 In-Person Learning Guidance

At the August 14, 2020 meeting, the Authority approved SPCSA Recommendation to Issue COVID-19 In-Person Learning Guidance. Under the guidance, schools could previously operate under a distance education model with up to 25% in-person learning. Since then, most, but not all, schools have initiated some form of in-person learning, with a primary focus on special student populations and the youngest learners.

As of November 6, 2020, there have been 105 reported cases of COVID-19 amongst students and staff and approximately 25 people have been excluded from schools as a result. Schools have worked efficiently to conduct contact tracing and limit potential spread. In a focus group with 32 charter schools, school leaders expressed concerns around student performance and mental health due to a lack of in-person learning. 

The board approved Director Feiden’s recommendation to increase in-person learning from 25% of enrollment to 40% for schools at Mitigation Levels 1 or 2 effective Monday, November 9. Schools will not be required to operate at 40% in-person learning; rather, the recommendation will provide schools flexibility to increase in-person learning with COVID-19 safety considerations. Schools will also be required to continue to keep their opening plans up-to-date and to send those plans to the Authority. 

Click here to read the recommendation.
Click here to read more about this in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Board Approved the 2019-2020 Organizational Performance Framework Results

The  SPCSA Organizational Performance Framework (OPF) sets forth agreed upon expectations of performance and compliance. The Framework measures SPCSA-sponsored charter schools under five areas of focus: 1) Education Program, 2) Financial Management & Oversight, 3) Governance & Reporting, 4) Students & Employees, and 5) School Environment. Schools must reach 80% or higher on a 20-point scale in each of the five focus areas to rate as “Meets Standard.”

All SPCSA sponsored-schools earned at least 97% in each Organizational Performance Framework category for the 2019-2020 school year. 

The board has directed SPCSA to provide final results to the governing boards of each charter school in the coming weeks.

Click here to download the Organizational Performance Framework presentation.
Click here to see SPCSA-sponsored Charter School Performance Ratings.

Board Reviewed Four (4) New School Applications for Approval or Denial

SPCSA staff presented information to the Board about four new school applicants, followed by Board discussion and an opportunity for each school to present before the Board.

Sage Collegiate Charter School: Approved with Conditions 

Sage Collegiate Charter School was approved with the following conditions:

  • Provide an updated staffing plan and budget that addresses a scenario in which additional services are needed to meet the needs of special education students, English Learners, and students with behavior and/or social-emotional needs.
  • Provide a specific timeline and action plan for selecting and preparing a facility and engaging with the local jurisdiction by January 31, 2021.
  • Provide an updated list of proposed partnerships which also includes draft Memorandums of Understanding with each identified partner, and outlines deliverables and responsibilities of each party.

Click here to see the full Sage Collegiate Charter School report.

Las Vegas Montessori Charter Academy: Denied

The SPCSA staff did not recommend the application for Board approval. The Board concurred with staff’s recommendation not to approve the application and discussed concerns that it is unclear how the Las Vegas Montessori model aligns to Nevada Academic Standards.

Click here to see the full Las Vegas Montessori Charter application report.

Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy: Denied

The SPCSA staff did not recommend the application for approval. The Board concurred with staff’s recommendation and discussed the need to refine the application. The Board noted that the charter application does not provide sufficient evidence of community engagement or input, and expressed concerns about sufficient capacity to support an expansion in North Las Vegas.

Click here to see the full Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy application report.

Eagle Nevada: Denied

The SPCSA staff did not recommend the application for approval. The Board concurred with staff’s recommendation and discussed the need to refine the application due, in part, to a lack of community partnerships, limited outreach, and lack of a clear segregation of roles and responsibilities for school management.

Click here to see the full Eagle Nevada application report.

Long-Range Calendar

Due to the volume of anticipated agenda items, an additional SPCSA meeting will be scheduled in December.

Click here to see the long-range calendar.

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Nevada Ed-Watch 7/23/20

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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, July 23, 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: 

  • Concerns about inequities in technology and device access
  • Concerns about quality supports for diverse learners  
  • Concerns for students who have not been reached since school buildings closed 
  • Concerns about Speech Language Pathologists’ max caseloads

President’s Report

President Wynn introduced and welcomed two new board members:

  • Alex Gallegos, Student Representative
  • Wayne Workman, Nevada Association of School Superintendents Appointee

Superintendent’s Report

State Superintendent Ebert report highlights:

  • Funding
    • During the 31st Special Session of the Nevada Legislature, Assembly Bill 3  (AB3) directed $50 million in CARES Act funding to a grant program to be administered by the Nevada Department of Education. School districts can apply for funds to support programs that serve vulnerable students. Funds will be distributed to districts once eligible students are identified. The bill also prioritizes what cuts will be restored if additional funding relief is provided, and listed funding for the weighted funding formula for K-12 and Read by Grade Three as the top two funding priorities, respectively. 
    • The Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund allocated $26 million for P-20 education. A portion of those dollars were set aside to purchase a statewide Learning Management System. Other funds have been used to backfill Pre-K. 
    • The US Department of Education has approved the Perkins V Plan for the State of Nevada and the 2020 Workforce Innovation Act Unified State Plan. 
  • School Reopening Plans 
    • Under Governor Directive O22, reopening plans must be submitted to the Department no more than 20 days before school opens. Clark County, Eureka, Nye, and Washoe County school districts have submitted their certifications with their plans.
  • Nevada Digital Learning Collaborative and Digital Engineers
    • The Nevada Digital Learning Collaborative has expanded to include 20 new members who represent diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds, speak multiple languages, and represent additional counties in Nevada. 
    • Digital Engineers are currently planning a virtual learning conference in September, likely centered around the theme “Building Relationships in the Digital Space”  
    • The Department of Education has leveraged CARES Act funding to provide a statewide Learning Management System (LMS) for districts to access curriculum and content. Six school districts have expressed interest in leveraging the statewide LMS. The Clark County School District will provide content for grades 6-12. 
    • To compliment LMS, the Department has purchased high quality digital content through Discovery Education that is accessible to every student and educator throughout the state and can be accessed with or without a LMS.
  • Community Partnerships 
    • Superintendent Ebert recognized United Way of Southern Nevada, United Way of Northern Nevada, Vegas PBS, and PBS Reno for their efforts to support families and students throughout the pandemic. 

Board members discussed the importance of ensuring that the quality of digital learning continues to improve. The Board has requested frequent updates from each district regarding (1) internet connectivity (2) availability and distribution of learning devices (3) teacher training (4) how the Department and districts plan to assess student success and (5) instructional delivery to vulnerable students. 

Board Approved the Consent Agenda

Consent Agenda Highlights:

Board Heard Updates from the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation & Technology (OSIT) 

The Director of OSIT provided the board with updates related to efforts to ensure students in Nevada are connected to devices and have adequate internet to support online learning. OSIT is working to connect families through: 

  • Community wireless infrastructure for groups of students living near one another, including broadcasting WiFi networks within school buildings to be available to students in neighborhoods surrounding the school;
  • Wireless hotspots for individual students identified by school districts; and  
  • Subsidized home internet service providers. 

Additional federal assistance dollars are under negotiation to support Wifi hotspots, connected devices, and support for home broadband connections.

Click here to view the presentation 

Board Heard Update from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workgroup of the Nevada State Board of Education

The purpose of the workgroup is to address systemic racism in Nevada’s education system that affects students of color, including components such as teacher diversity, discipline practices, and access to technology. The first meeting on the workgroup focused on discussion priorities including: 

  • Upcoming budget cuts; 
  • Supports for with IEPs;
  • Teaching training on distance learning pedagogy; 
  • Ensuring students have support systems and social connections throughout distance learning; and 
  • Equity training for the Department and Board. 

The Board approved a letter to Nevada Legislators and Nevada’s Congressional Delegation representatives requesting “support in identifying funding and incentivizing internet providers to address the increasing urgency of Nevada’s digital divide.”

Board Approved the Statewide Plan for Improvement of Pupils (STIP)

NDE staff provided an updated version of the STIP that includes language changes as directed by the board at the June 4th meeting. Changes were focused on ensuring language used in the STIP is person-first, equity driven, and public-friendly.

Click here to view the STIP
Click here to view the changes 
Click here to view the presentation 

Board Approved Delta Academy for Alternative Performance Framework 

Public schools in Nevada are rated under either the Nevada State Performance Framework (NSPF) or the Alternative Performance Framework (APF). According to NRS 285A.740, schools that are eligible for the Alternative Performance Framework must have a stated mission to serve at-risk students, with at least 75% of students that: 

  • Have been expelled or suspended from a public school;  
  • Have been deemed to be a habitual disciplinary problem; 
  • Are academically disadvantaged;
  • Have been adjudicated delinquent; and/or 
  • Have an Individualized Education Program (IEP).  

Delta Academy will be rated under the Alternative Performance Framework starting in the 2020-2021 school year. They are required to reapply to continue to be rated on the APF in 3 years. 

Click here to view the presentation

Board Heard Update From Teach Plus Nevada 

The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that advance equity, opportunity, and student success. Teach Plus Nevada staff and Senior Policy Fellows presented their policy and advocacy activities throughout 2020, including: 

Click here to view the presentation, including recommendations.

Requests For Future Agenda Items 

  • Ongoing reports from school districts on the implementation of distance learning

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Nevada Ed Watch 7/11/19

Posted on by Opportunity 180

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 5pm at the Edward A. Greer Education Center (Board Room): 2832 E. Flamingo Road, 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. Community members can sign up to speak after the agenda has been posted– by calling the Board Office at (702) 799-1072 at least 3 hours before the scheduled meeting, or signing up in-person at the beginning of the meeting. Prior to each agenda item being voted on, speakers can share their perspective after the Board’s discussion and prior to the vote.

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Clark County School District Board of Trustees Meeting

Click here to see the meeting agenda

What happened at this meeting?

Public Comment

Members of the public provided testimony both in support and opposition of the decision to eliminate the dean position in the Clark County School District.

Trustees Unanimously Approved the Consent Agenda

Consent agenda highlights:

Trustees and CCSD leadership also discussed accountability and a plan to scale the success of the eight middle schools that were designated as Innovative Schools.

Click here to learn more and see a full list of Innovative Schools.

Trustees Approved CCSD’s Annual Membership with the Nevada Association of School Boards

Trustees approved the annual fee for the Clark County School District to be a member of the Nevada Association of School Boards. Total membership cost was $29,874.23.  

Trustees Heard a Presentation on the Qualitative Budget Forecast

The presentation, led by CCSD’s Chief Financial Officer, covered the current budget forecast and a review of recent financial information.

Click here to see the presentation. 

Trustees Discussed the Decision to Eliminate the Dean Position

Trustees heard from members of the public both in support and in opposition of the decision to eliminate the dean position.

Specifically, members of the public provided testimony regarding:

  • Calling for teachers and administrators to work together to advocate for more funding at the county and state level
  • Requesting a forensic audit of the CCSD budget
  • Looking for other ways for the district to acquire more money

Trustees clarified that money could not come from the ending fund balance, and that they could not postpone the cuts until next year. 

Trustees did not vote on this decision because they do not have the authority to overrule, per board policy. However, Superintendent Jara committed to working with his cabinet and principals, with public input in mind, to identify alternative cost saving strategies. 

Click here to read about this in the Nevada Independent.

Trustees Approved a Partnership with Acceleration Learning

Acceleration Learning provides academic programming and support for students who have dropped out, so they can receive a high school diploma. Board discussion addressed concerns about staffing the program with out-of-state personnel, ensuring funding transparency, and getting clarification on enrollment expectations.

Click here to learn more about Acceleration Learning. 

Trustees Heard a Presentation on the CCSD K-12 Student Code of Conduct

The Equity and Diversity Education Department provided information to Trustees related to student discipline and an analysis of cultural inclusivity in schools. 

Click here to view the presentation

Click here to see the Culturally Inclusive School Analysis.

Trustees Heard a Presentation About Food Service 

The presentation was about increased participation and improved quality in meal services, which is part of the CCSD Focus 2024 strategic plan.

Click here to see the presentation.

Trustees Approve a Customer Service Agreement with Nevada Energy

Trustees approved a customer service agreement with NV Energy, who proposed an incentive program to retain CCSD as a full service customer over a five year term.

Click here to see the agreement.

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