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. 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, as defined in section 1, to pupils; and (3) require the use of evidence-based mental health curriculum. Section 2 of this bill requires a teacher employed at a public school who is initially hired: (1) on or before July 1, 2027, to complete a course in mental health education on or before July 1, 2027; and (2) after July 1, 2027, to complete such a course within his or her first year of employment, unless the teacher provides proof that he or she already completed the course while employed at another public school. Section 2 also requires the Department to adopt regulations that prescribe: (1) the required contents of such a course; and (2) the process for approving such a course. Section 2 further: (1) sets forth which entities are authorized to provide a course in mental health education; (2) requires each public school to keep a record of the completion of such a course for each teacher employed at the school; and (3) authorizes the Department to inspect such records. Section 4 of this bill requires school districts and charter schools to provide such professional development training in mental health education by partnering with certain entities. Section 4 additionally requires school districts and charter schools to partner with the Nevada System of Higher Education and other school districts to provide such professional development training in rural areas and 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 6 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.345, 391A.370
Reprint 1: 389.520, 391A.345, 391A.370
BDR: 389.520, 391.019, 391A.345, 391A.370