Existing law creates the Teach Nevada Scholarship Program to make grants of money to colleges, universities and other providers of an alternative licensure program to award scholarships to students who attend a program offered by such an institution which, upon completion, makes the student eligible to obtain a license to teach kindergarten, any grade from grades 1 through 12 or in the subject area of special education in this State or specialize in the subject area of early childhood education. (NRS 391A.550-391A.590) Sections 2-11 of this bill create the Teach Nevada Collaborative to consolidate, coordinate and improve the efficiency of all statewide efforts to recruit and prepare persons to become teachers in public schools in this State and to retain teachers who currently work in public schools in this State. Sections 3-7 of this bill define certain terms relevant to the Collaborative. Section 8 of this bill creates the Teach Nevada Collaborative Account and authorizes the use of the money in the Account to recruit and prepare persons to become teachers and retain teachers who currently work in public schools in this State by awarding grants to colleges, universities, other providers of an alternative licensure program and certain nonprofit organizations. Section 9 of this bill creates the Teach Nevada Collaborative and establishes the purpose of the Collaborative in the Department of Education. Section 9 establishes the membership of the Collaborative. Section 9 requires the Department to oversee the activities of the members of the Collaborative to: (1) support programs for dual credit for pupils who wish to become teachers; (2) provide scholarships to certain students for programs that lead to a teaching license; (3) provide support to certain students and student teachers; and (4) support programs to recruit people into the teaching profession. Section 9 establishes certain limits on the amount of money in the Account that can be used for each such purpose in each biennium. Section 10 of this bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop and carry out a program of block grants to members of the Collaborative and certain nonprofit organizations for programs that carry out the activities required by section 9. Section 10 establishes annual targets for the number of persons who become a teacher, persons enrolled at a course of study at an institution within the Nevada System of Higher Education for preparation as a teacher and pupils enrolled in a program for dual credit. Section 11 of this bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to: (1) establish agreements with certain entities for the collection and analysis of data, program evaluation and identification of specific metrics for accountability of the Collaborative and the programs supported by the Collaborative; (2) report annually to the Governor and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the Legislature and Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education; and (3) review biennially the performance of the Collaborative and report to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education any recommendations for legislation to improve the operation of the Collaborative. Section 13 of this bill makes an appropriation to the Teach Nevada Collaborative Account to support the Collaborative. Section 16 of this bill repeals the provisions of law creating the Teach Nevada Scholarship Program, effective July 1, 2031. Section 12 of this bill makes a conforming change to remove a reference to the Program. Section 14 of this bill prohibits the State Board of Education from accepting applications for a grant or awarding a grant from the Teach Nevada Scholarship Program Account on or after July 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 396.5198
Reprint 1: 396.5198
BDR: 396.5198