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, May 1, 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
- Visual learning disabilities
- High school start times
- Developmental delay assessment ages
President’s Report
Highlights included:
- The Nevada Portrait of a Learner initiative will have convenings on June 3 and June 5 in Las Vegas and Reno, respectively.
- Board Member Updates: Member Dockweiler mentioned that May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and provided an update on Read by Grade 3. This is the last meeting of Member Keyes’ term as student representative. Member Hudson presented to the Interim Education Committee and recommended giving an overview on required testing. Member Hughes provided updates on the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, designated in 2023 by Senate Bill 425, with the goal of examining best practices around the U.S. to maximize impact in Nevada.
- Purple Star Schools: Fourteen schools have been designated as Purple Star Schools for supporting children of military families.
- Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Updates: Amber Donelli will be the interim president of Great Basin College, effective July 2024. Additional work has been done to increase enrollment and access to dual enrollment coursework.
Superintendent’s Report
Highlights included:
- Milken Education Award had two Nevada awardees: Yamilet Lopez, from Maxwell Elementary School, and Joseph Kielminski, from Foothill High School.
- Nevada Department of Education presented to the Interim Finance Committee’s education accountability subcommittee. The team is working with the Carnegie team on potential updates to the Carnegie unit and system.
Board Approved the Consent Agenda
Consent agenda items included:
- Approval of several regulations from the Commission on Professional Standards in Education
- Approval of Washoe County School District Academic Credit for Military Science III Application
Board Discussed an Update on High School Start Time Community Survey Implementation
The Board received an update on the community survey to be deployed to gauge interest in adjusting high school start times. Survey questions include demographic info on the survey taker’s role (teacher, student, parent/caregiver, etc.), benefits and challenges of later high school start times, and start time choice.
Adjustments were made to include current high school start times, ensuring the neutrality of the survey, translations, and accessibility of language. The Department will make the changes and will bring the revised survey back to the Board at its June meeting.
The link will go out to school districts and through the Department’s website and newsletter. The survey will run from 2-3 weeks. It is anticipated to go live in September.
Board Discussed NAC 388.430 Age Requirements and Voted to Reconsider Age Requirements that Apply to the Developmental Delay Categorical Eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
NAC 388.430 details that a pupil under the age of six may be identified as a student with a developmental delay, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Proposed regulations would extend that designation to under the age of 10, to allow for continued access to special education services, including Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, with targeted interventions to address specific learning needs.
It would also provide for more time for accurate diagnoses for specific learning disabilities, which may not be clear at six years old. Extending the age also could lead to improved social and emotional development alongside academic interventions.
Potential changes needed would include increased teacher preparation to encompass specific learning and developmental needs through third grade; review of eligibility forms; a shift in evaluations to focus on assessing developmental delays to consider both developmental levels and academic readiness; investment in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers, special education professionals, and support staff; and more comprehensive assessments.
The Board voted to move forward with reconsidering the age requirements that apply to the Developmental Delay categorical eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Explore the presentation.
Future Agenda Items
Future agenda items will include a presentation from NSHE on dual credit programs, application for a student member of the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority, and recurring items on social-emotional learning/school climate surveys, Teach Nevada and Nevada Teacher Advancement Scholarship Awards, and Teacher and Leaders Council Recommendations.
Additional suggestions were a presentation on standardized testing requirements, the Nevada Teacher Exit Transfer Survey results, emergency substitute licensing, and Read by Grade 3 subcommittee updates.
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, June 12, at 9:00 a.m.
