SB403 - Revises provisions relating to education. (BDR 34-611)

EXEMPT (Reprinted with amendments adopted on May 30, 2025) SECOND REPRINT S.B. 403 - *SB403_R2* SENATE BILL NO. 403–SENATORS DONDERO LOOP; CANNIZZARO, CRUZ-CRAWFORD, DOÑATE, NGUYEN, OHRENSCHALL, PAZINA, SCHEIBLE AND TAYLOR MARCH 17, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Education SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to education. (BDR 34-611) 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; creating the Subcommittee on Metrics of the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education; revising provisions governing competency- based learning; authorizing an alternative schedule for public schools; authorizing local educational agencies to develop, maintain and publish certain materials related to career exploration; requiring the Board of Economic Development to make certain recommendations relating to opportunities for pupils for career exploration in schools; authorizing the Office of Economic Development to require applicants for certain transferable tax credits and certain tax abatements to agree to a plan to provide work-based learning opportunities to pupils or instructors for career and technical education courses; making appropriations; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law creates the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in 1 Education and requires the Commission to develop a statewide vision and 2 implementation plan to improve the public education system in this State. (NRS 3 385.910, 385.920) Section 1 of this bill creates the Subcommittee on Metrics of the 4 Commission and requires the Subcommittee to develop, in collaboration with the 5 Department of Education, metrics for local educational agencies and schools to 6 measure the progress and success of pupils, schools and school districts. Section 2 7 of this bill makes a conforming change to apply the definition of the term 8 – 2 – - *SB403_R2* “Commission,” which is applicable to provisions governing the Commission on 9 Innovation and Excellence in Education, to the provisions of section 1. Section 2.5 10 of this bill revises the membership of the Commission by adding: (1) the deans of 11 the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Nevada, 12 Reno, and the College of Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and 13 (2) the dean of the School of Education at Nevada State University. Section 24 of 14 this bill makes an appropriation of $68,910 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and $68,910 15 for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 for a staff position to oversee the implementation of 16 recommendations made by the Commission. Section 26 of this bill makes an 17 appropriation of $25,000 for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and $25,000 for the Fiscal 18 Year 2026-2027 for the travel expenses of the members of the Commission and 19 Subcommittee. 20 Existing law requires the Department to establish a pilot program to provide 21 competency-based education. (NRS 389.210) Existing law defines “competency- 22 based education” as a system of instruction by which a pupil advances to a higher 23 level of learning when the pupil demonstrates mastery of a concept or skill, 24 regardless of the time, place or pace at which the pupil progresses. (NRS 389.200) 25 Section 6 of this bill changes the term “competency-based education” to 26 “personalized, competency-based learning,” and revises the definition for that term. 27 Section 4.3 of this bill authorizes the board of trustees of a school district, the 28 governing body of a charter school or university school for profoundly gifted 29 pupils, a committee to form a charter school or a charter management organization 30 to apply to the Department to provide a program of personalized, competency- 31 based learning and prescribes requirements for the application process. Section 4.4 32 of this bill requires the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body 33 of a charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils to ensure that 34 the program is run in a manner that complies with any applicable statutes, 35 regulations or rules or policies of the school district, charter school or university 36 school. Section 4.5 of this bill authorizes a program of personalized, competency- 37 based learning to be provided on an alternative schedule. Section 4.6 of this bill 38 requires the State Board of Education to adopt regulations to carry out the 39 provisions of sections 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5. 40 Section 4.2 of this bill requires the Department, not later than July 1, 2040, and 41 at least once every 5 years thereafter, to review and, as necessary, revise its Portrait 42 of a Nevada Learner to align with the educational needs of this State. 43 Existing law requires the boards of trustees of school districts to schedule and 44 provide a minimum of 180 days of free school in the districts under their charge. 45 (NRS 388.090) Existing law authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to 46 authorize a school district to provide a program of instruction based on an 47 alternative schedule, including a schedule which involves the reduction of not more 48 than 15 school days to provide a 12-month school program. (NRS 388.090) Section 49 3 of this bill eliminates provisions authorizing the reduction of up to 15 school days 50 to provide for a 12-month school program and instead generally authorizes an 51 alternative schedule for a school to involve a reduction in the number of school 52 days. 53 Existing law requires the State Board of Education to establish a course of 54 study in occupational guidance and counseling and requires such instruction to be 55 made available for pupils in grades 7-12. Existing law requires the board of trustees 56 in each school district to organize and offer the curriculum within the limits of 57 money made available for that purpose. (NRS 389.041) Section 5 of this bill 58 authorizes a local educational agency to develop, maintain and publish on its 59 Internet website recommendations for educational materials and information 60 regarding career exploration suitable for pupils in grades 1-5. 61 Existing law creates the Board of Economic Development, which, among other 62 duties, is required to make recommendations to the Executive Director of the Office 63 – 3 – - *SB403_R2* of Economic Development relating to the criteria to be used by the Office in 64 providing development resources and making allocations, grants and loans. 65 (NRS 231.033, 231.037) Existing law additionally requires the Board to review and 66 evaluate all programs of economic development in this State and make 67 recommendations to the Legislature for legislation. (NRS 231.037) Section 9 of 68 this bill further requires such recommendations to include recommendations to 69 provide incentives for businesses, including small businesses, to provide 70 opportunities for career exploration to pupils enrolled in public high schools in this 71 State. Section 9 additionally requires the Board to review and make 72 recommendations to the Department regarding technologies to facilitate the 73 exploration by pupils of careers in industries in this State. 74 Existing law authorizes the Office to approve transferable tax credits and 75 abatements or partial abatements of certain property taxes, business taxes and sales 76 and use taxes for certain businesses in certain circumstances. The Office is 77 prohibited from approving an application for such credits or abatements unless the 78 applicant satisfies certain criteria. (NRS 231.1555, 274.310, 274.320, 274.330, 79 360.750, 360.753, 360.754, 360.759, 360.889, 360.945) Sections 10-23 of this bill 80 authorize the Office to require an applicant for transferable tax credits or a tax 81 abatement to enter into an agreement with the Office that includes a plan by the 82 applicant to provide work-based learning opportunities to pupils enrolled in public 83 high schools in this State. Section 8.5 of this bill requires the Department to adopt a 84 definition of “work-based learning opportunity” for the purpose of such 85 agreements. 86 Section 25 of this bill appropriates $2,250,000 to the Department to enter into a 87 contract with a qualified entity to provide professional development regarding 88 personalized, competency-based learning programs and assist the Commission on 89 Innovation and Excellence in Education in developing recommendations and the 90 Department in implementing such recommendations. Section 25.5 of this bill 91 appropriates to the Department an additional $222,763 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 92 and $279,956 for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 for personnel and operating costs to carry 93 out the provisions of this bill. 94 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 385 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1 thereto a new section to read as follows: 2 1. There is hereby created the Subcommittee on Metrics of 3 the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, 4 consisting of members appointed by the Chair of the Commission. 5 The Subcommittee shall, in collaboration with the Department, 6 develop metrics that local educational agencies and schools may 7 use to measure the progress and success of pupils, schools and 8 school districts, including, without limitation: 9 (a) Metrics for learning outcomes which are based on growth, 10 including, without limitation, the development of skills, 11 competencies and dispositions. 12 (b) Metrics of holistic factors, including, without limitation, 13 the well-being of pupils, social capital and civic engagement. 14 2. Each member of the Subcommittee: 15 – 4 – - *SB403_R2* (a) Serves without compensation; and 1 (b) While engaged in the business of the Subcommittee, is 2 entitled to receive the travel expenses provided for state officers 3 and employees generally. 4 Sec. 2. NRS 385.900 is hereby amended to read as follows: 5 385.900 As used in this section and NRS 385.910 and 385.920, 6 and section 1 of this act, unless the context otherwise requires, 7 “Commission” means the Commission on Innovation and 8 Excellence in Education created by NRS 385.910. 9 Sec. 2.5. NRS 385.910 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10 385.910 1. The Commission on Innovation and Excellence in 11 Education is hereby created. The Commission consists of: 12 (a) Three members who are Senators, two of whom are 13 appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate and one of whom is 14 appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 15 (b) Three members who are members of the Assembly, two of 16 whom are appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and one of 17 whom is appointed by the Minority Leader of the Assembly; 18 (c) The Superintendent of Public Instruction; 19 (d) The Director of the Office of Finance; 20 (e) The Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education; 21 (f) One member who is a representative of the State Board of 22 Education, appointed by the President of the State Board; 23 (g) One member who is a teacher and member of the Nevada 24 State Education Association, appointed by the President of that 25 Association; 26 (h) One member who is a teacher and member of the Clark 27 County Education Association, appointed by the President of that 28 Association; 29 (i) One member appointed by the Nevada Association of School 30 Administrators; 31 (j) One member who is a member of the board of trustees of a 32 school district, appointed by the Nevada Association of School 33 Boards; 34 (k) One member who is a superintendent of schools of a school 35 district, appointed by the Nevada Association of School 36 Superintendents; 37 (l) One member who is the chief financial officer of a school 38 district, appointed by the Association of School Business Officials 39 International; 40 (m) One member appointed by the Nevada Association of 41 Counties; 42 (n) One member appointed by the Nevada League of Cities; 43 – 5 – - *SB403_R2* (o) One member who is the representative of an organization 1 that advocates for public education, appointed by the Superintendent 2 of Public Instruction; 3 (p) One member who is the parent or guardian of a pupil who is 4 enrolled in a public school in this State, appointed by the Nevada 5 Parent Teacher Association; 6 (q) One member who is a representative of the public at large, 7 appointed by the Governor; 8 (r) Two members who own or manage a business located in this 9 State, appointed by the Governor; [and] 10 (s) One member who serves on the Commission on School 11 Funding created by NRS 387.1246 [.] ; 12 (t) The dean of the College of Education and Human 13 Development at the University of Nevada, Reno, or his or her 14 designee; 15 (u) The dean of the College of Education at the University of 16 Nevada, Las Vegas, or his or her designee; and 17 (v) The dean of the School of Education at Nevada State 18 University, or his or her designee. 19 2. In appointing the members of the Commission described in 20 paragraphs (g) and (h) of subsection 1, the appointing authorities 21 shall coordinate the appointments so that: 22 (a) One member is a teacher in an elementary school and one 23 member is a teacher in a secondary school, respectively; and 24 (b) One member is a teacher in a public school in an urban 25 setting and one member is a teacher in a public school in a rural 26 setting, respectively. 27  The appointing authorities shall, in appointing a member at the 28 beginning of each term, alternate the characteristics described in 29 paragraphs (a) and (b) so that each member appointed to the 30 Commission does not possess the same characteristic in consecutive 31 terms. 32 3. If any organization listed in subsection 1 ceases to exist, the 33 appointment required pursuant to that subsection must be made by 34 the organization’s successor in interest or, if there is no successor in 35 interest, by the Governor. 36 4. In appointing the members of the Commission described in 37 subsection 1, the appointing authorities shall coordinate the 38 appointments when practicable so that the members of the 39 Commission represent the diversity of this State, including, without 40 limitation, regional, [Text truncated for display. Full text available on LegiScan.]