Legislative “Cheat Sheet”
Bills to Watch and Ways to Get Involved this Legislative Session
Aligned with our legislative priorities, we have detailed some important bills to watch and ways to participate in the process.
ENN aims to support bills that provide additional funding and resources for Nevada’s K-12 public schools, promote equity and accountability in our schools, and avoid diverting critical resources to unaccountable and discriminatory voucher schemes. Please check back often as we update this bill tracker.
To stay on top of these and other bills visit the Nevada Legislature’s website and sign up to TRACK bills here. You can track bills that you are interested in by clicking the “Click to Track” button in the upper righthand corner of the page when viewing a bill. You must be signed in for the button to appear. By tracking a bill, you will be emailed regular updates on when the bill will be discussed by lawmakers, so you can testify by calling, writing, or showing up in person.
BILLS ALIGNED WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
BILLS WE SUPPORT
SUPPORT: AB139 – Makes an appropriation to the Department of Education for programs of dual credit. Sponsor: Assemblymember Selena Torres-Fossett
Makes an appropriation to the Department of Education for the purpose of awarding grants of money to school districts or institutions within the Nevada System of Higher Education for programs of dual credit.
Why we support: Dual-credit programs give high school students the opportunity to earn valuable skills and college credit that will give them a head start as they transition into adulthood.
SUPPORT: AB156 Revises provisions governing the salary of members of the board of trustees of certain school districts. Sponsor: Assemblymember Erica Mosca
Revises provisions governing the salaries of elected or appointed members of the board of trustees of Clark County School District who currently earn $750 per month to increase their salaries to an amount equal to the base salary of Clark County commissioners.
Why we support: Appropriately compensating trustees entices more qualified candidates, and ensures a more professional commitment to the role.
SUPPORT: AB195 Revises provisions governing boards of trustees of school districts. Primary Sponsor: Assemblymember Thaddeus Yurek
This bill revises provisions governing the duties, rights and responsibilities of appointed members of a board of trustees of a school district (CCSD) allowing them to have the same voting rights as elected board members and allows them to be included in an official count for a quorum, prohibits a board of trustees from restricting or curtailing the duties, rights or responsibilities of a member based on whether the member was elected or appointed to the office and prohibits the board of trustees from conducting certain business during a meeting designated as a work session or workshop.
Why we support: Appointed trustees have offered invaluable insights and diversity in Clark County, but their inability to vote and participate fully have limited their impact. All CCSD trustees should have the same rights and responsibilities in order to effectively participate in their role.
SUPPORT: AB224 Provides for the issuance of bonds to assist certain school districts in financing capital improvements. Primary Sponsor: Assemblymember Erica Mosca
It requires the State Board of Finance to issue $100,000,000 in general obligation bonds to make grants to certain school districts whose population is less than 15,000 and whose ad valorem tax rate has reached maximum capacity imposed by law in order to finance capital improvements for buildings that have been condemned, are unsuitable for use and cost of renovation exceeds cost of new construction.
Why we support: This bill offers a lifeline to communities with schools that are over 100 years old and in desperate need of replacement.
SUPPORT: SB58 Revises provisions governing grants for certain prekindergarten programs. Sponsor: Committee on Finance
Extends prekindergarten services known as Nevada Ready! Pre-K by increasing the maximum household income level for a student to qualify for a grant or for students who have an Individualized Education Program and establishing the method for determining the amount awarded for such grants.
Why we support: Access to quality Pre-K programs have numerous benefits. Pre-K enrollees experience improved graduation and college enrollment rates, are more likely to take SATs and prepare for college, and are less likely to get suspended, skip class, or end up at juvenile detention centers. Pre-K sets up students for success.
SUPPORT: SB90 Makes an appropriation to the Department of Education for the provision of grants to organizations to provide certain supplies and materials to teachers and specialized instructional support personnel. Primary Sponsor: Senator Marilyn Dondero Loop
Makes an appropriation to the Department of Education for the creation of a grant program to allow certain teachers and specialized instructional support personnel to obtain certain supplies or materials for classrooms or school operations.
Why we support: Educators and support professionals should never have to spend their personal funds to support their students and schools. This bill provides grants to assist with the cost of school supplies and materials.
SUPPORT: SB115 Makes various changes relating to bilingual education. Sponsors:Senator Michelee Cruz-Crawford, Senator Fabian Doñate, Assemblymember Cinthia Zermeño Moore
Requires the board of trustees of a school district or governing body of a charter school to provide a $2,500 stipend to teachers who teach pupils enrolled in a program of bilingual education; requires information concerning such stipends to be included in reports, requiring teachers to hold an endorsement to teach pupils enrolled in a program of bilingual education; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Why we support: Research has shown numerous benefits to bilingual education, such as improved academics, enhanced job prospects, improved cognition, among other benefits. Students benefit when educators are encouraged to participate in bilingual education.
SUPPORT: AB217 Prohibits school officials from granting access and information for immigration enforcement. Sponsor: Assemblymember Cecelia González
This bill prohibits school districts, public schools and their employees from providing permission to access school district facilities or information to certain federal officials investigating or enforcing immigration laws, among other related matters.
Why we support: No student should be fearful of attending school based on their or their families immigration status. School should be a safe place for students and families.
SUPPORT: AB 441 Sponsor: Assemblymember Daniele Monroe-Moreno
Ensuring Opportunity Scholarship voucher granting organizations do not hoard funding, a practice that resulted in voucher proponents requesting more funding for the controversial program.
Why we support: Out-of-state special interest groups should not be allowed to use public tax dollars to line their pockets while simultaneously claiming the state should commit even more money to private school vouchers.
BILLS WE OPPOSE
OPPOSE: AB214 Revises provisions governing the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship. Sponsor: Assemblymember Gregory Hafen.
This bill increases eligibility for private school vouchers, known as Opportunity Scholarships, to households that are 400% above the federal poverty level (up from 300%), increases the total funding for vouchers five-fold to $30 million, and provides an inflationary annual increase of 10%.
Why we oppose: Private school vouchers divert funding away from Nevada public schools, which are funded well below the national average. The bill offers private school vouchers to wealthier households and drastically increases total funding for the scheme without remedying the many documented issues with transparency and accountability. And with most reputable private schools costing well above the average per-pupil amount of the voucher, low-income families are unlikely to benefit.
OPPOSE: SB224 Converts traditional public schools to charter schools. Sponsors: Senator Carrie Ann Buck, Senator Jeff Stone, Senator Ira Hansen, Assemblymember Alexis Hansen
In addition to other matters, this bill requires the Department of Education to convert a traditional public school to a charter school after three years of low performance. In addition, the bill requires taxpayer dollars to cover costs associated with the transition and operation of the charter school.
Why we oppose: Research is mixed on whether converting low-performing traditional public schools to charter schools leads to improved outcomes. When charters do succeed, the results are often attributed to more funding for targeted programs, greater flexibility in decision-making, and other circumstances. Before charters begin taking over neighborhood public schools, we believe these schools deserve a chance to succeed with appropriate funding levels and additional support. Nevada continues to fund public schools well below the national average, making delivering evidenced-based resources difficult.
As the session moves along, ENN will be identifying other bills that we believe are worth supporting, opposing, or monitoring. Please check back regularly for more information and updates.
GETTING INVOLVED
Do you care about a bill being heard? Want to give your opinion on a proposed budget? Have an important perspective on a policy proposal? Don’t forget to contact your legislator. Find out who represents you here. They want to hear from you and our students are worth it.