Existing law creates the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education and requires the Commission to develop a statewide vision and implementation plan to improve the public education system in this State. (NRS 385.910, 385.920) Section 1 of this bill creates the Subcommittee on Metrics of the Commission and requires the Subcommittee to develop metrics for school districts and schools to measure the progress and success of pupils, schools and school districts. Section 2 of this bill makes a conforming change to apply the definition of the term “Commission,” which is applicable to provisions governing the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, to the provisions of section 1. Section 24 of this bill makes an appropriation of $137,820 for a staff position to oversee the implementation of recommendations made by the Commission. Section 26 of this bill makes an appropriation of $25,000 for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and $25,000 for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 for the travel expenses of the members of the Commission and Subcommittee. Existing law requires the Department of Education to establish a pilot program to provide competency-based education. (NRS 389.210) Existing law defines “competency-based education” as a system of instruction by which a pupil advances to a higher level of learning when the pupil demonstrates mastery of a concept or skill, regardless of the time, place or pace at which the pupil progresses. (NRS 389.200) Sections 6-8 of this bill change the term “competency-based education” to “competency-based learning,” but otherwise retain the existing definition for that term. Section 7 authorizes the Department: (1) to create a timeline and action plan to implement alternatives to Carnegie Units or methods to enable the use of Carnegie Units to coexist with the system of instruction used in competency-based learning; and (2) submit recommendations to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education for legislation necessary to implement such alternatives or methods or to authorize the Department to revise or eliminate certain regulations. Existing law requires the boards of trustees of school districts to schedule and provide a minimum of 180 days of free school in the districts under their charge. (NRS 388.090) Sections 3 and 7 of this bill authorize the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school to apply to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for approval of: (1) an alternative schedule for a school which is selected to participate in the pilot program to provide competency-based learning; and (2) an alternative method in which the Superintendent of Public Instruction will count enrollment and calculate the average daily attendance of pupils enrolled in such a school for the purposes of apportionments and allowances from the State Education Fund. Existing law requires the State Board of Education to establish a course of study in occupational guidance and counseling and requires such instruction to be made available for pupils in grades 7-12. Existing law requires the board of trustees in each school district to organize and offer the curriculum within the limits of money made available for that purpose. (NRS 389.041) Sections 4 and 5 of this bill eliminate the provisions making such instruction optional and instead require the board of trustees of each school district and the governing body of each charter school to ensure that the course is provided to pupils enrolled in grades 6, 7 and 8. Section 5 of this bill requires the Department to develop, maintain and publish on an Internet website maintained by the Department educational materials and information regarding career exploration suitable for pupils in grades 1-5. Existing law creates the Board of Economic Development, which, among other duties, is required to make recommendations to the Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development relating to the criteria to be used by the Office in providing development resources and making allocations, grants and loans. (NRS 231.033, 231.037) Existing law additionally requires the Board to review and evaluate all programs of economic development in this State and make recommendations to the Legislature for legislation. (NRS 231.037) Section 9 of this bill further requires such recommendations to include recommendations to provide incentives for businesses, including small businesses, to provide opportunities for career exploration to pupils enrolled in public schools in this State. Section 9 additionally requires the Board to review and make recommendations to the Department regarding technologies to facilitate the exploration by pupils of careers in industries in this State. Existing law authorizes the Office to approve transferable tax credits and abatements or partial abatements of certain property taxes, business taxes and sales and use taxes for certain businesses in certain circumstances. The Office is prohibited from approving an application for such credits or abatements unless the applicant satisfies certain criteria. (NRS 231.1555, 274.310, 274.320, 274.330, 360.750, 360.753, 360.754, 360.759, 360.889, 360.945) Sections 10-23 of this bill authorize the Office to require an applicant for transferable tax credits or a tax abatement to enter into an agreement with the Office that includes a plan by the applicant to provide opportunities for career exploration to pupils enrolled in public schools in this State. Section 25 of this bill appropriates $2,250,000 to the Department to: (1) make grants to school districts to assist schools in participating in the pilot program to provide competency-based learning; and (2) enter into a contract with a qualified entity to provide professional development regarding competency-based learning programs and assist the Department in implementing the recommendations made by the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 385.900, 388.090, 389.041, 389.200, 389.210, 389.230, 231.037, 231.1555, 274.310, 274.320, 274.330, 360.750, 360.753, 360.754, 360.759, 360.888, 360.889, 360.891, 360.894, 360.940, 360.945
BDR: 385.900, 388.090, 389.041, 389.200, 389.210, 389.230, 231.037, 231.1555, 274.310, 274.320, 274.330, 360.750, 360.753, 360.754, 360.759, 360.888, 360.889, 360.891, 360.894, 360.940, 360.945