26-04-2025
‘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.
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