Over the past few weeks, NSEA has been surveying educators across the state to find out what changes they’d like to see made in the 2027 Legislative Session. Ninety-four percent of respondents want NSEA to continue our Pass the Plan campaign, with 56% indicating an importance of 100 out of 100. The mandate is clear: seriously, pass the plan.
As you know, education funding was effectively kept flat last session, with a two-dollar per-pupil increase. School districts across Nevada have been struggling with the effects. The Washoe County School District faced an $18 million deficit this year. Last week, we learned CCSD plans to surplus 1200 positions to address a $50M shortfall. Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, and Elko counties are facing deficits as well. These cuts translate into larger class sizes, staffing reductions, school consolidations, service cuts, and fewer opportunities for students.
Flat funding also makes it nearly impossible to bargain for educator raises, which tops our survey’s list of possible uses for education funds. Class size reduction and coverage for increasing health insurance costs, both with fiscal impacts, are next. Educator safety remains a top issue for our members who would like appropriate recourse for educators who are assaulted, and to retain the ability for educators to remove disruptive students. (This is the survey section that received the most optional comments.) The top teacher priorities in the classroom were ensuring adequate prep time and the elimination of student data in teacher evaluations.
For Aspiring Educators, pay for student teaching is the top priority, and you will be hearing from education students about the economic hardships they face. Educators across the state are strongly against the use of public dollars for private school vouchers and want to see more accountability for charters. Requiring all charter teachers to be licensed, including for electives, topped that list. Finally, worker protections scored very strongly across the board with protecting PERS as a defined benefit program, protecting collective bargaining, and the development of a decent, affordable healthcare option for retirees, leading that section.
NSEA has been working with several of our local affiliates and chapters on related ideas for bill drafts, and we look forward to working with this committee to move those ideas forward to the 2027 Legislative Session.
What's On Your Mind?
