Existing law requires the board of trustees of a school district in a county whose population is 100,000 or more (currently Clark and Washoe Counties) and authorizes any other board of trustees of a school district to establish a program of career and technical education. (NRS 388.380) Existing law additionally authorizes the State Board of Education to administer career and technical education in this State and establish certain policies governing career and technical education. (NRS 388.360) Under existing regulations, the board of trustees of a school district is authorized to offer a program of career and technical education with a course of study designed to allow a pupil to pursue an industry-recognized credential as a certified nursing assistant. (NAC 389.800, 389.803) As part of such a course of study, a pupil enrolled in the program is required to either: (1) take an end-of-program assessment prescribed by the Department of Education to measure the proficiency of the pupil in the course of study; or (2) obtain an industry-recognized credential in the program area. (NAC 389.800, as amended by LCB File No. R019-24) Section 11.3 of this bill requires the boards of trustees of the Clark County School District, Elko County School District, Lyon County School District and White Pine County School District, in coordination with the State Board of Nursing, to establish a pilot program for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years to cover the costs for pupils enrolled in a program of career and technical education to be a certified nursing assistant to register for an examination to obtain an industry-recognized credential as a certified nursing assistant. Under the pilot program, a pupil is eligible for the school district to cover the cost of registering for such an examination, in an amount not to exceed $300, if the pupil: (1) completes the final course of instruction in a course of study to be a certified nursing assistant; (2) elects to participate in the pilot program by opting to take an examination to obtain an industry-recognized credential as a certified nursing assistant instead of an end-of-program assessment prescribed by the Department; (3) satisfies all prerequisites to take the examination; and (4) registers for and completes the examination. Section 11.3 requires each school district required to establish the pilot program to coordinate with the State Board of Nursing to: (1) establish a process to allocate and distribute funding to eligible pupils; (2) facilitate the scheduling and administration of examinations at sites approved by the State Board of Nursing; (3) inform pupils concerning eligibility for the pilot program; (4) monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program to ensure equitable access to opportunities for certification as a certified nursing assistant for all pupils; and (5) track and compile certain information concerning the pilot program. Section 11.7 appropriates money to the Department of Education for distribution to the school districts required to establish the pilot program for the purpose of covering the costs for eligible pupils to take the examination for an industry-recognized credential as a certified nursing assistant.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 388.400, 396.930, 396.934, 644A.300, 644A.315, 644A.328, 644A.330, 644A.345, 644A.360, 644A.400
BDR: 388.400, 396.930, 396.934, 644A.300, 644A.315, 644A.328, 644A.330, 644A.345, 644A.360, 644A.400