News Summary
In Nevada, Governor Joe Lombardo and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro have introduced competing education bills aimed at improving accountability in schools. Despite a recent increase in education funding, issues like low student performance and chronic absenteeism persist. Cannizzaro’s bill emphasizes transparency and support for early education, while Lombardo’s focuses on allowing transfers from low-performing schools and state intervention. As the legislative session nears its end, urgency mounts to address these challenges.
Las Vegas – Nevada leaders are proposing competing education bills with the aim of increasing accountability in the state’s schools. Republican Governor Joe Lombardo and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, a Democrat from Las Vegas, each introduced their own legislation during the first hearings of the 2025 session last week. These proposals emerge against a backdrop of persistent issues with student proficiency and chronic absenteeism across Nevada’s public education system.
Both bills arrive in the wake of a significant increase in K-12 education funding during the 2023 legislative session, which allocated a historic $2 billion boost for public schools and an additional $250 million matching fund designated for raising the salaries of teachers and support staff. Despite this funding increase, concerns about low student performance in math and English remain, as proficiency levels have yet to return to those seen before the pandemic and are reportedly below the national average. Additionally, chronic absenteeism rates continue to adversely affect student outcomes.
Under the proposed education budget bill, SB500, the state’s annual per-pupil funding will continue to lag $4,000 behind the national average and is projected to remain flat. In response, Cannizzaro’s bill, designated as SB460, carries a price tag of $105 million, encompassing provisions for salary increases for charter school personnel, funding for early childhood education, and the establishment of a teacher apprenticeship program. It also emphasizes increasing transparency in charter schools and the Opportunity Scholarship program, which provides needs-based scholarships for low-income students funded by private business donations.
On the other hand, Lombardo’s legislative proposal, AB584, includes measures that would allow students enrolled in low-performing schools to transfer to private institutions, with state funding to cover associated tuition costs. This bill calls for nearly $11 million to be appropriated for creating new transportation funding for charter schools under the state’s Pupil-Centered Funding Plan. Furthermore, Lombardo’s legislation introduces provisions for state intervention in schools labeled as chronically underperforming, including options for school takeovers or conversion to charter schools.
Cannizzaro’s bill also seeks to create a statewide oversight board to address challenges in various school districts and enforces accountability standards for superintendents and chief financial officers. Within this framework, superintendents from Clark and Washoe County could face removal should they fail to comply with job requirements or meet annual evaluation expectations.
The discussions around these bills are not without controversy. Legislators across party lines have expressed concern regarding the potential lack of dedicated funding estimates for future charter school initiatives. Additionally, Cannizzaro’s bill calls for enhanced reporting requirements from private institutions receiving funding through Opportunity Scholarships, including tracking information on expelled or otherwise withdrawn students.
While both proposals aim to bolster accountability in education, criticisms have arisen regarding their effectiveness. Democratic lawmakers challenge the punitive approaches of Lombardo’s proposal and propose a more supportive investment framework in schools. Lombardo maintains that his bill underscores the commitment to providing every Nevada student with access to a high-quality education, regardless of geographical location or family background.
The urgency to finalize these education reforms is heightened as the legislative session is set to conclude on June 2. Stakeholders are pushing for effective solutions to address the challenges facing Nevada’s education system before the end of the school year, ensuring that policymakers create a path toward improved student outcomes in the state.
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Additional Resources
- Nevada Independent: Lombardo Proposes Converting Underperforming Schools to Charters
- Google Search: Nevada education reform
- Review Journal: Lombardo Outlines Sweeping Education Reform Bill
- Wikipedia: Education in Nevada
- 2 News: Education Accountability Top Priority for Legislative Session
- Google News: Nevada education legislation
