Public Comment: Commission on School Funding

Last month, NSEA submitted comments to this Commission on optimal funding as it related to the staffing crisis impacting school operations across the state.

In the past month, the most pressing crisis facing Nevada schools has only gotten worse. We know Nevada has ranked near the bottom of states in education funding and quality for decades. With the additional challenges of the last two years, we have an unprecedented shortage of educators to teach our kids and make our schools run.

This week CCSD listed over 2200 vacant positions, while WCSD listed over 450.

Without bold action to address this crisis right now, thousands of Nevada students can expect to return to school with no bus driver and no teacher in their classroom.

As this Commission considers optimal funding of Nevada schools, including communication strategies to promote optimal funding, we hope you appreciate the level of urgency of the crisis in our schools and convey this urgency in your actions and messaging to the public. NSEA’s Time for 20 campaign captures this urgency as felt by Nevada educators. Time for 20 calls for a 20% increase in educator pay and at least $20/hour for the workers who make our school run. Time for 20 aims for an average class size of 20 students in core academic subjects. Time for 20 would address many of the causes of the educator shortage and should be considered in any conversation about optimal funding for public education in Nevada. Educators and our students across the state require bold action.