Latest news with #NevadaAccountabilityinEducationAct
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nevada lawmakers hear governor's charter school heavy education bill
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Nevada lawmakers heard the governor's education reform bill on Thursday as he seeks to expand charter schools and hold schools more accountable for student achievement. Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo introduced the Nevada Accountability in Education Act before the Democratic-controlled Assembly Ways and Means Committee. 'The gap between our highest and lowest performing schools is wider than ever. That's not simply a school issue, it's a system-level issue,' Lombardo said. 'While some schools are excelling, too many students remain underserved. This legislation aims to change that.' His bill would give the state control over underperforming schools while offering incentives to teachers whose students overachieve. Lombardo's proposal has open enrollment, which means a child can apply to attend any school within a school district, despite their zip code. School bus transportation would be provided to open-enrollment students and students attending charter schools. It would also remove a cap on the number of students who can enroll in a charter school started by a city or county. Both Las Vegas and Henderson are among the municipalities in Clark County that started their own schools. But Lombardo's push for charter schools may doom this bill among democrats. 'We do have a responsibility as good stewards of public funds that school districts and schools should be held accountable for supporting our students and that student achievement,' Assem. Selena Torres-Fossett, D-Clark County, said. 'My concern right now is that this policy, as drafted, seems very punitive without providing the support.' The debate over charter schools has become front and center with democratic leadership wanting more oversight, and State Senate Republicans voting against the education budget Wednesday night because it did not include charter school pay raises. The last day of the legislative session is June 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Remove that excuse': Gov. Lombardo's education bill aims at performance, accountability
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo introduced his plan on Friday to remake education statewide, with a big focus on holding local school leaders accountable for poor student outcomes. Lombardo unveiled what he labeled as the Nevada Accountability in Education Act at Pinecrest Academy – Sloan Academy. But his bill faces challenges from the Democratic controlled Nevada Legislature. 'We can no longer accept lack of funding as an excuse for chronic underperformance,' Lombardo said. 'My attempt is to be bold and remove that excuse as part of the process.' According to the governor, his bill would make it easier for the state to take over underperforming schools and to restructure a school board if student performance lags. But it's unclear how much his bill would cost. Senate Majority Leader Cannizzaro, D-Clark County, told 8 News Now on Tuesday she will introduce a wide-ranging education bill next week. Back in December, she laid out her vision for it. '[Cannizzaro's] bill is coming out the same time as mine, hopefully, fingers crossed. And then we'll have the opportunity to sit down and do the checklist, and determine what is of importance to both me, and the state of Nevada, and the legislative process,' Lombardo said. Cannizzaro also spoke with 8 News Now in February in Carson City and said her bill would include giving the four non-voting members on the Clark County School District Board of Trustees voting power. 'We can't have our school board of trustees just constantly embroiled in different fights with each other. We have the business of educating students to get to and I think those new trustees are bringing that, so part of my bill is giving them voting rights,' Cannizzaro said on Feb. 7. But that is one of the few similarities the Cannizzaro and Lombardo bills have right now. Lombardo's speech on Friday at Pinecrest Academy highlighted one of his prime concerns — providing more funding for charter schools, which as a whole are the second-largest school system in Nevada. 'We're getting into the last four weeks of the [legislative] session, and you want to make sure that you have a complete evaluation of policies of this size and that everybody has a voice in the process,' Lombardo said. The governor will release more information next week on his bill, which includes money to provide school bus travel for charter school students. Another element is providing more money for the Read by Grade 3 program. Lombardo said his bill would also give teachers, staff, and administrators immunity from criminal and civil lawsuits regarding 'good faith' efforts to stop violence in the classroom. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
