We appreciate the bill sponsor for working with us on some of these items; we share in the stated goals to improve student outcomes and increase transparency and accountability in education.
NSEA shares in the stated goals of SB460 to improve student outcomes and increase transparency and accountability in education. NSEA strongly supported SB460’s original expansion of Pre-K opportunities for the entire state. We're disappointed to see this money completely removed. Early learning lays a critical foundation for children's lifelong academic success and development. We know that children who participate in early childhood education programs are less likely to repeat a grade, more prepared academically for later grades, and more likely to graduate from high school and become higher earners in the workforce.
NSEA also applauds greater controls for charter schools required in SB460. While we have advocated for parity in licensure requirements for charter school teachers, requiring all charter teachers in core academic subjects to be fully licensed is movement in the right directions. We also strongly support provisions in SB460 that give school districts the ability to object to the formation of a charter school. There are several other provisions in SB460 that NSEA supports ensuring school sites have a school counselor and counseling services, more transparency and accountability related to private school vouchers, and more accountability related to over-testing and teaching to the test.
There are some provisions in the bill, as amended, that are of concern. The performance accountability mechanism in the bill could set up schools with high concentrations of poverty up for failure by threatening probation, state takeover, and replacement of staff if they don’t meet performance benchmarks. Study after study has shown an overwhelming correlation between low test scores and poverty. NSEA opposes negative “accountability” measures, especially when districts and schools aren’t provided the resources necessary to improve student performance. Large class sizes is one of the most confounding issues facing Nevada schools. NSEA prefers quarterly reporting on this important issue.
Finally, in the final days of the session, NSEA is compelled to point out that this bill to improve public education in Nevada comes in the same session that failed to move the needle on one of the most important factors in school performance—funding. While Nevada trails the national average by more than $4000 per student, next year will bring just a $2 increase in funding. This will put Nevada even further behind, as school districts across the state are preparing budgets with cuts to schools and programs serving our students. Accountability works best when it applies at every level.
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