Existing law requires the Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools to establish standards of content and performance for courses of study in various subject areas, including health. (NRS 389.520) Existing law further requires that such standards established for courses in health include mental health and the relationship between mental and physical health. (NRS 389.520) Section 1 of this bill requires the standards developed for mental health education to: (1) correspond with any social and emotional learning standards that are developed by the Department of Education; (2) include, without limitation, the provision of information concerning mental health, the promotion of mental health and culturally appropriate and age-appropriate mental health resources to pupils; and (3) require the use of evidence-based mental health curriculum. Section 1 also defines “mental health resources.” Existing law requires the Commission on Professional Standards in Education to adopt regulations for licensing teachers and other educational personnel and procedures for the issuance and renewal of such licenses. (NRS 391.019) Section 3 of this bill requires the regulations to include a requirement that an applicant for a license to teach complete a course in mental health education before receiving the license. Existing law imposes certain additional requirements for applicants seeking renewal of a license to teach, including the provision of information certifying that the applicant has completed a course in multicultural education. (NRS 391.034-391.0347) Section 2 of this bill requires a teacher who is first licensed on or before July 1, 2025, to submit with the first application for renewal after July 1, 2025, proof of the completion of a course in mental health education. Section 2 also requires the Commission to adopt regulations that: (1) prescribe the contents of such a course; (2) require a licensed teacher seeking renewal of a license to teach to complete at least two credits of such a course or at least 30 hours of relevant professional development training; and (3) establish the process by which the Commission approves certain providers of such professional development. Section 3.5 of this bill requires school districts and charter schools to provide professional development in mental health education by partnering with certain entities. Section 3.5 additionally requires school districts and charter schools to partner with the Nevada System of Higher Education or other school districts to provide such professional development either in rural school districts or online. Existing law requires the board of trustees of each school district and the governing body of each charter school to ensure that teachers have access to high-quality, ongoing professional development training. (NRS 391A.370) Section 4 of this bill requires that such professional development training include training on mental health education and encompass any social and emotional learning standards developed by the Department.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 389.520, 391.019, 391A.370
Reprint 1: 389.520, 391.019, 391A.345, 391A.370
BDR: 389.520, 391.019, 391A.370