SB98 - Revises provisions governing language education. (BDR 34-31)

S.B. 98 - *SB98* SENATE BILL NO. 98–SENATOR BUCK PREFILED JANUARY 16, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Education SUMMARY—Revises provisions governing language education. (BDR 34-31) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: May have Fiscal Impact. Effect on the State: Yes. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to education; revising and defining certain terminology that refers to languages other than English; requiring the Department of Education to study the possibility of imposing certain requirements to obtain an endorsement to teach such a language; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law requires the Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public 1 Schools to establish standards of content and performance for courses of study in 2 foreign or world languages. (NRS 389.520) Existing law also requires a teacher to 3 obtain an endorsement in a field of specialization to be eligible to teach in that field 4 of specialization. (NRS 391.019) In order to receive an endorsement to teach a 5 world language, existing regulations require a teacher to: (1) hold an elementary or 6 secondary license or a license to teach middle school or junior high education; and 7 (2) have majored or minored in the world language to be taught. (NAC 391.235) 8 Section 1 of this bill defines “language other than English” to mean a form of 9 human communication, other than the English language, that consists of a system 10 of sounds, letters, symbols or signs and meets certain other requirements. Sections 11 2 and 3 of this bill replace the term “world language” with “language other than 12 English” in existing law, and section 5 of this bill directs the Legislative Counsel to 13 make conforming changes to existing regulations when codifying the Nevada 14 Administrative Code. 15 Existing regulations require a teacher to have received certain training in 16 language acquisition and methods of teaching and assessing English learners in 17 order to receive an English language acquisition and development endorsement. 18 (NAC 391.237) Section 4 of this bill requires the Department of Education to: (1) 19 study the possibility of imposing similar requirements in order to receive an 20 endorsement to teach a language other than English; and (2) submit and present a 21 report of the results of the study to the Legislature. 22 – 2 – - *SB98* THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. NRS 385.007 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 385.007 As used in this title, unless the context otherwise 2 requires: 3 1. “Challenge school” has the meaning ascribed to it in 4 NRS 388D.305. 5 2. “Charter school” means a public school that is formed 6 pursuant to the provisions of chapter 388A of NRS. 7 3. “Department” means the Department of Education. 8 4. “English learner” has the meaning ascribed to it in 20 U.S.C. 9 § 7801(20). 10 5. “Homeschooled child” means a child who receives 11 instruction at home and who is exempt from compulsory enrollment 12 and attendance pursuant to NRS 392.070. 13 6. “Language other than English” means a form of human 14 communication, other than the English language, that: 15 (a) Consists of a system of sounds, letters, symbols or signs 16 that are recognized and utilized by humans; 17 (b) Is used to: 18 (1) Interact and negotiate meaning with other people; 19 (2) Understand and analyze oral, written or signed texts; 20 and 21 (3) Create culturally appropriate oral, written or signed 22 products and presentations for specific audiences and tasks; 23 (c) Allows people to investigate, explain and reflect on the 24 relationship between the products, practices and perspectives of a 25 particular culture; 26 (d) Allows people to exchange information about shared 27 experiences, make arguments, empathize with other people and 28 creatively express themselves orally, visually or in writing; 29 (e) Is capable of being used to share stories relevant to a 30 culture or community; and 31 (f) Forms the basis for a specific community of people who use 32 the language. 33 7. “Local school precinct” has the meaning ascribed to it in 34 NRS 388G.535. 35 [7.] 8. “Public schools” means all kindergartens and 36 elementary schools, junior high schools and middle schools, high 37 schools, charter schools and any other schools, classes and 38 educational programs which receive their support through public 39 taxation and, except for charter schools, whose textbooks and 40 courses of study are under the control of the State Board. 41 – 3 – - *SB98* [8.] 9. “School bus” has the meaning ascribed to it in 1 NRS 484A.230. 2 [9.] 10. “School counselor” or “counselor” means a person 3 who holds a license issued pursuant to chapter 391 of NRS and an 4 endorsement to serve as a school counselor issued pursuant to 5 regulations adopted by the Commission on Professional Standards 6 in Education or who is otherwise authorized by the Superintendent 7 of Public Instruction to serve as a school counselor. 8 [10.] 11. “School psychologist” or “psychologist” means a 9 person who holds a license issued pursuant to chapter 391 of NRS 10 and an endorsement to serve as a school psychologist issued 11 pursuant to regulations adopted by the Commission on Professional 12 Standards in Education or who is otherwise authorized by the 13 Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve as a school 14 psychologist. 15 [11.] 12. “School social worker” or “social worker” means a 16 social worker licensed pursuant to chapter 641B of NRS who holds 17 a license issued pursuant to chapter 391 of NRS and an endorsement 18 to serve as a school social worker issued pursuant to regulations 19 adopted by the Commission on Professional Standards in Education 20 or who is otherwise authorized by the Superintendent of Public 21 Instruction to serve as a school social worker. 22 [12.] 13. “State Board” means the State Board of Education. 23 [13.] 14. “University school for profoundly gifted pupils” has 24 the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 388C.040. 25 Sec. 2. NRS 388.593 is hereby amended to read as follows: 26 388.593 A school district, charter school and university school 27 for profoundly gifted pupils that participates in the State Seal of 28 Biliteracy Program established pursuant to NRS 388.591 must 29 award a pupil, upon graduation from high school, a high school 30 diploma with a State Seal of Biliteracy if the pupil: 31 1. Successfully completes all courses of study in English 32 language arts that are required for graduation with at least a 2.0 33 grade point average, on a 4.0 grading scale; 34 2. Demonstrates proficiency in one or more languages other 35 than English: 36 (a) By passing an advanced placement examination in a [world] 37 language other than English with a score of 3 or higher or passing 38 an international baccalaureate examination in a [world] language 39 other than English with a score of 4 or higher; or 40 (b) By passing an examination in a [world] language [,] other 41 than English, if the examination is approved by the board of 42 trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school 43 or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable; and 44 – 4 – - *SB98* 3. If the primary language of the pupil is not English, 1 demonstrates proficiency in English on an assessment designated by 2 the Department. 3 Sec. 3. NRS 389.520 is hereby amended to read as follows: 4 389.520 1. The Council shall: 5 (a) Establish standards of content and performance, including, 6 without limitation, a prescription of the resulting level of 7 achievement, for the grade levels set forth in subsection 5, based 8 upon the content of each course, that is expected of pupils for the 9 following courses of study: 10 (1) English language arts; 11 (2) Mathematics; 12 (3) Science; 13 (4) Social studies, which includes only the subjects of 14 history, geography, economics, civics, financial literacy and 15 multicultural education; 16 (5) The arts; 17 (6) Computer education and technology, which includes 18 computer science and computational thinking; 19 (7) Health; 20 (8) Physical education; and 21 (9) A [foreign or world] language [.] other than English. 22 (b) Establish a schedule for the periodic review and, if 23 necessary, revision of the standards of content and performance. The 24 review must include, without limitation, the review required 25 pursuant to NRS 390.115 of the results of pupils on the 26 examinations administered pursuant to NRS 390.105. 27 (c) Assign priorities to the standards of content and performance 28 relative to importance and degree of emphasis and revise the 29 standards, if necessary, based upon the priorities. 30 2. The standards for computer education and technology must 31 include a policy for the ethical, safe and secure use of computers 32 and other electronic devices. The policy must include, without 33 limitation: 34 (a) The ethical use of computers and other electronic devices, 35 including, without limitation: 36 (1) Rules of conduct for the acceptable use of the Internet 37 and other electronic devices; and 38 (2) Methods to ensure the prevention of: 39 (I) Cyber-bullying; 40 (II) Plagiarism; and 41 (III) The theft of information or data in an electronic 42 form; 43 (b) The safe use of computers and other electronic devices, 44 including, without limitation, methods to: 45 – 5 – - *SB98* (1) Avoid cyber-bullying and other unwanted electronic 1 communication, including, without limitation, communication with 2 on-line predators; 3 (2) Recognize when an on-line electronic communication is 4 dangerous or potentially dangerous; and 5 (3) Report a dangerous or potentially dangerous on-line 6 electronic communication to the appropriate school personnel; 7 (c) The secure use of computers and other electronic devices, 8 including, without limitation: 9 (1) Methods to maintain the security of personal identifying 10 information and financial information, including, without limitation, 11 identifying unsolicited electronic communication which is sent for 12 the purpose of obtaining such personal and financial information for 13 an unlawful purpose; 14 (2) The necessity for secure passwords or other unique 15 identifiers; 16 (3) The effects of a computer contaminant; 17 (4) Methods to identify unsolicited commercial material; and 18 (5) The dangers associated with social networking Internet 19 sites; and 20 (d) A designation of the level of detail of instruction as 21 appropriate for the grade level of pupils who receive the instruction. 22 3. The standards for social studies must include multicultural 23 education, including, without limitation, information relating to 24 contributions made by men and women from various racial and 25 ethnic backgrounds. The Council shall consult with members of the 26 community who represent the racial and ethnic diversity of this 27 State in developing such standards. 28 4. The standards for health must include mental health and the 29 relationship between mental health and physical health. 30 5. The Council shall establish standards of content and 31 performance for each grade level in kindergarten and grades 1 to 8, 32 inclusive, for English language arts and mathematics. The Council 33 shall establish standards of content and performance for the grade 34 levels selected by the Council for the other courses of study 35 prescribed in subsection 1. 36 6. The Council shall forward to the State Board the standards 37 of content and performance established by the Council for each 38 course of study. The State Board shall: 39 (a) Adopt the standards for each course of study, as submitted 40 by the Council; or 41 (b) If the State Board objects to the standards for a course of 42 study or a particular grade level for a course of study, return those 43 standards to the Council with a written explanation setting forth the 44 reason for the objection. 45 – 6 – - *SB98* 7. If the State Board returns to the Council the standards of 1 content and performance for a course of study or a grade level, the 2 Council shall: 3 (a) Consider the objection provided by the State Board and 4 determine whether to revise the standards based upon the objection; 5 and 6 (b) Return the standards or the revised standards, as applicable, 7 to the State Board. 8  The State Board shall adopt the standards of content and 9 performance or the revised standards, as applicable. 10 8. The Council shall work in cooperation with the State Board 11 to prescribe the examinations required by NRS 390.105. 12 9. As used in this section: 13 (a) “Computer contaminant” has the meaning ascribed to it in 14 NRS 205.4737. 15 (b) “Cyber-bullying” has the meaning ascribed to it in 16 NRS 388.123. 17 (c) “Electronic communication” has the meaning ascribed to it 18 in NRS 388.124. 19 Sec. 4. 1. During the 2025-2026 Interim, the Department of 20 Education shall study the possible establishment and 21 implementation of a requirement that, to receive an endorsement to 22 teach a language other than English, a teacher must have received 23 education in: 24 (a) Language acquisition theory and language development 25 practices; 26 (b) Methods and curriculum for teaching learners of languages 27 other than English; 28 (c) Assessment and evaluation of learners of languages other 29 than English; and 30 (d) Policies, critical issues and best practices for learners of 31 languages other than English. 32 2. When conducting the study required by subsection 1, the 33 Department shall solicit input from: 34 (a) The Professional Language Association of Nevada, or its 35 successor organization; 36 (b) Faculty members at institutions within the Nevada System of 37 Higher Education who teach languages other than English, 38 including, without limitation, such faculty members at the 39 University of Nevada, Reno, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 40 the College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State Universi [Text truncated for display. Full text available on LegiScan.]