Page 13 - CCEA 2017 Legislative Report

Support: Read by 3rd Grade: AB409

Description: CCEA member and President of the Nevada Association of School Psychologists, Dr.
Katie Dockweiler, presented with the bill sponsor and proposed taking the Read by 3rd Grade program a
step further to expand upon the intervention components to enhance the overall literacy skills of
Nevada’s elementary students. She testified that Assembly Bill 409 would positively impact student
achievement, increase social-emotional well-being of students, decrease the drop-out rate, increase the
graduation rate, increase autonomy of school sites, and align accountability to produce the ultimate yield
for the intent. Unfortunately, the bill did not move forward.
Sponsor: Assembly Education Committee
Status: Died

Support: High-Stakes Testing Audit: SB303

Description: Requires an audit of certain performance assessments conducted in public schools.
Sponsors: Senators Woodhouse, Ford, Manendo, Denis, Parks, Cancela, Harris, Ratti, Segerblom
and Spearman; Assemblymen Carlton and Fumo
Status: Signed by the Governor

Education Saving Accounts: SB506

Description: Prior the beginning of the session, CCEA went on the record stating the ESAs would be
the key issue to any compromise between the Democrats and the Republicans. In the end, we were right.
And though the Democrats reached no agreement with Republicans on ESAs, in part because the
Republicans overreached on their demands making a deal on ESAs impossible, in the end a compromise
was reached. Funding the Opportunity Scholarships was the compromise. A voucher is a voucher.
However, in recognition of the imperative need to keep moving the needle forward, we weren’t willing
to let political grandstanding be our fall back position. Given what’s happening nationally with public
education and the Trump administration, it is clear that in Nevada politics the fight for funding ESAs
isn’t going away.
Sponsor: Committee on Education
Status: Died

Support: Criminal Records for Educator at Charters & More: AB77

Description: This is an extensive bill that includes reporting and monitoring of criminal records for
educator at charter schools, the expansion of the Commission for Professional Standards in Education
committee to include a member representing Early Childhood, adding a pre-evaluation fee for new
teachers and language for reciprocity for licensure.
Sponsor: Committee on Education
Status: Signed by the Governor

Support: Progressive Student Discipline: SB386

Description: Student behavioral issues are something that impact all educators and licensed personnel.
The bill requires the principal to establish a Review Committee and expands coverage to include other
school facilities beyond the classroom setting. SB386 expands upon a good law that addresses a need.
Sponsor: Woodhouse, Denis, Segerblom, Ford, Spearman, Atkinson and Cancela
Status: Signed by Governor Sandoval

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