Carson City Education Reform Gains Bipartisan Support
CARSON CITY — Major education reform is on the horizon for Nevada, as Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and Republican Governor Joe Lombardo work collaboratively to unify their education bills. Their efforts culminated in a merged proposal, Senate Bill 460, which recently passed the Senate unanimously and now heads to the Assembly for further consideration.
The bill reflects a commitment to greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency within Nevada’s education system. It aims to enhance educational outcomes through expanded pre-K options, improved accountability systems, and increased time for teachers in the classroom.
Key provisions of SB 460 include a statewide accountability framework for school districts, allowing superintendents to intervene when schools fail to achieve sufficient student growth. Increased oversight will come from an oversight board that responds to complaints against non-compliant districts, ensuring swift corrective actions, including potential leadership changes.
Furthermore, the proposal addresses teacher recruitment and retention, introducing a Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program and salary incentives for educators. A newly formed Commission on Recruitment and Retention will oversee these initiatives. Originally, a mandated teacher-to-administrator ratio was to apply statewide; however, it has been amended to specifically target Clark County.
In promoting school choice, SB 460 establishes a statewide open enrollment system and enables counties to sponsor new charter schools. Transparency is also emphasized with stricter regulations on opportunity scholarships.
Additionally, the proposal retains goals for expanding pre-kindergarten programs, increasing eligibility for low-income families, and integrating phonics-based STEM instruction into early literacy.
As negotiations continue into the final hours of the legislative session, both parties express optimism about this landmark bipartisan effort to strengthen Nevada’s education system.
Contact Jessica Hill at jehill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @jess_hillyeah on X.
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