News Summary
Nevada’s charter schools will receive $38 million through Assembly Bill 398 to address teacher pay disparities. This funding aims to support pay raises in charter schools, which previously missed out on funding included in a 2023 law for traditional school districts. Unlike the earlier legislation, this allocation does not require a matching contribution from charter schools, easing financial burdens. With around 69,000 students enrolled in charter schools, this funding is crucial amid ongoing budget constraints and aims to put charter teachers on equal footing with those in traditional districts.
Las Vegas — Nevada’s charter schools are set to receive $38 million in funding designed to address teacher pay disparities, as state lawmakers approved the allocation under Assembly Bill 398 (AB398). This initiative aims to provide essential financial support to charter schools which were not included in a previous 2023 law that increased salaries for educators in traditional school districts.
According to the interim legislative committee’s recent approvals, the first half of the funds will be distributed to support pay raise plans for charter schools. This comes amid ongoing financial challenges faced by schools, which struggle with flat per pupil funding and heightened contributions to the state retirement system.
Unlike the earlier 2023 legislation, which mandated traditional school districts to match state funding to avail of an additional $250 million for teacher pay raises, the new funds for charter schools do not require such a match. This provision reflects an understanding of the financial constraints many charter schools experience.
Speaker Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas) emphasized the significance of eliminating the match requirement for charter schools, as many would find it financially burdensome. Currently, charter schools have evolved into the state’s second-largest educational system, with approximately 69,000 students across 80 campuses.
Notably, the absence of charter schools from the previous pay raise initiative resulted in traditional school districts in Clark and Washoe counties enhancing teacher salaries by roughly 20%. For instance, Futuro Academy, a Title I charter school in East Las Vegas with around 500 students, faced significant limitations due to the 2023 funding restrictions, noting that per pupil funding only increased by $2 during the 2025 legislative session.
The executive director of Futuro Academy recognized that the new funding will play a crucial role in enhancing financial support for schools, particularly due to the absence of matching requirements. The budget of Futuro Academy allocates about 60% to 65% of its $6 million budget to instructional staff salaries. To remain competitive with traditional school districts, Futuro Academy had previously implemented an average teacher pay increase of 13%.
Amplus Academy, another charter school that has recently experienced significant salary increases for its staff, reported raising pay by 21% to 28% over the last two years. However, they continue to face challenges with starting salaries which still fall short compared to traditional districts. The chief executive of Amplus Academy indicated the school lost at least six teachers to the Clark County School District due to better salary offers.
The funding from AB398 also allocates provisions for $5,000 bonuses to educators serving in hard-to-fill roles, particularly within Title I schools and special education programs. Additionally, the recently signed Nevada education budget for the next two academic years includes permanent pay raises for charter school teachers.
Projected per pupil funding sits at $9,416 for the initial year of the biennium, with anticipated growth to $9,486 in the subsequent year. Governor Joe Lombardo emphasized that this new funding framework aims to put charter school teachers on an “equal playing field” with their traditional district counterparts.
Nevertheless, the recent economic downturn has limited state revenue forecasts, constraining available funding for substantial increases in school budgets. Concerns have emerged regarding the adequacy of the $2 per pupil increase given the current inflationary pressures and rising costs. Legislative leaders remain committed to supporting all educators, regardless of the type of school, reinforcing the state’s dedication to enhancing educational quality.
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Additional Resources
- The Nevada Independent: After 2025 funding boost, can Nevada charter schools keep up on teacher pay
- Google Search: Nevada charter schools teacher pay
- 8 News Now: Nevada Legislature passes charter school raises bill
- Wikipedia: Nevada public education
- News 3 LV: Bill for Nevada charter school teacher raises passes
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Charter schools
- My News 4: Nevada governor signs K-12 education budget
- Google News: Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo
- KOLO TV: Assembly passes bill to boost pay for public charter schools
- Google Scholar: Nevada charter schools
- Review Journal: Bill could give Nevada charter school teachers pay raises
- Google Search: Nevada education budget
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