EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Section 1. Chapter 388 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

1-2 the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 10, inclusive, of this act.

1-3 Sec. 2. As used in sections 2 to 10, inclusive, of this act, unless the

1-4 context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in sections 3, 4

1-5 and 5 of this act have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

1-6 Sec. 3. "Local program" means a program provided by the board of

1-7 trustees of a school district to improve the academic achievement of

1-8 pupils who are at risk.

1-9 Sec. 4. "Pupil at risk" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS

1-10 386.500.

1-11 Sec. 5. "State program" means the state program for the financial

1-12 support of local programs to improve the academic achievement of pupils

1-13 who are at risk.

2-1 Sec. 6. 1. There is hereby established the state program for the

2-2 financial support of local programs to improve the academic

2-3 achievement of pupils who are at risk, to be administered by the

2-4 superintendent of public instruction.

2-5 2. The superintendent of public instruction shall, in cooperation with

2-6 the boards of trustees of the school districts, adopt regulations:

2-7 (a) That establish the criteria for the eligibility of school districts to

2-8 participate in the state program;

2-9 (b) That set forth the process for submission of an application to

2-10 participate in the state program and the contents of the application; and

2-11 (c) To carry out the provisions of sections 2 to 10, inclusive, of this

2-12 act.

2-13 3. The superintendent of public instruction may expend not more

2-14 than 1 percent per year of the money appropriated for the state program

2-15 to pay the costs incurred in administering the state program.

2-16 Sec. 7. 1. On or before November 1 of each year, the board of

2-17 trustees of a school district may submit an application to the

2-18 superintendent of public instruction to participate in the state program.

2-19 The application must be on a form provided by the superintendent and

2-20 contain the following information regarding the operation of a local

2-21 program proposed by the board of trustees:

2-22 (a) The courses of instruction that will be offered to pupils who

2-23 participate in the local program;

2-24 (b) The projected enrollment of pupils in the local program, including,

2-25 without limitation, the categories of pupils who are expected to

2-26 participate;

2-27 (c) The methods that will be used to increase the attendance of pupils

2-28 who are at risk;

2-29 (d) The methods that will be used to retain teachers who teach pupils

2-30 who are at risk and who teach in schools that have been designated as

2-31 demonstrating inadequate achievement pursuant to NRS 385.367;

2-32 (e) The method by which the success of the local program will be

2-33 evaluated;

2-34 (f) The financial requirements of the school district to operate the

2-35 local program; and

2-36 (g) Such other information as the superintendent of public instruction

2-37 requires.

2-38 2. Upon receipt of such an application, the superintendent of public

2-39 instruction shall review the application and, if the application meets the

2-40 criteria for eligibility adopted by the superintendent pursuant to section 6

2-41 of this act, approve the application.

2-42 Sec. 8. On or before December 1 of each year, the superintendent of

2-43 public instruction shall apportion the money available for the state

3-1 program for that school year among the school districts whose

3-2 applications for participation have been approved. If applications from

3-3 each school district have been approved, the superintendent of public

3-4 instruction shall distribute to each school district a percentage of the

3-5 money available for the state program which is equal to the number

3-6 obtained by dividing the total count of pupils enrolled in the school

3-7 district by the total count of pupils enrolled in every school district in this

3-8 state. If applications from fewer than all of the school districts have been

3-9 approved, the superintendent of public instruction shall distribute to each

3-10 of the participating school districts a percentage of the money available

3-11 for the state program which is equal to the number obtained by dividing

3-12 the total count of pupils enrolled in the participating school district by the

3-13 total count of pupils enrolled in every participating school district.

3-14 Sec. 9. If a school district participates in the state program, it shall

3-15 provide a local program to improve the academic achievement of pupils

3-16 who are at risk. A local program must be designed to:

3-17 1. Increase the attendance of pupils who are at risk;

3-18 2. Improve the academic achievement of pupils who are at risk; and

3-19 3. Retain teachers who teach in schools where a majority of the

3-20 pupils are at risk or schools that have been designated as demonstrating

3-21 inadequate achievement pursuant to NRS 385.367.

3-22 Sec. 10. On or before July 1 of each year, the board of trustees of

3-23 each school district that participates in the state program shall submit a

3-24 report on a form provided by the superintendent of public instruction.

3-25 The report must contain the following information concerning the

3-26 operation of a local program by the school district in the immediately

3-27 preceding school year:

3-28 1. The courses of instruction that were offered to pupils who

3-29 participated in the local program;

3-30 2. The total enrollment of pupils in the local program;

3-31 3. The evaluation of the local program in accordance with the

3-32 method for evaluation set forth by the board of trustees in its application;

3-33 4. The costs incurred by the school district to operate the local

3-34 program;

3-35 5. The financial resources necessary for the school district to

3-36 continue to operate the local program; and

3-37 6. Such other information as the superintendent of public instruction

3-38 requires.

3-39 Sec. 11. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund

3-40 to the department of education for the state program for the financial

3-41 support of local programs to improve the academic achievement of pupils

3-42 who are at risk:

4-1 For the fiscal year 1999-2000 $2,000,000

4-2 For the fiscal year 2000-2001 $2,000,000

4-3 2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1

4-4 for:

4-5 (a) The fiscal year 1999-2000 must be transferred and added to the

4-6 money appropriated for the fiscal year 2000-2001.

4-7 (b) The fiscal year 2000-2001, including any money added thereto

4-8 pursuant to paragraph (a), must not be committed for expenditure after

4-9 June 30, 2001, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments

4-10 of money committed have been made.

4-11 Sec. 12. The superintendent of public instruction shall:

4-12 1. On or before October 1, 1999, adopt regulations in accordance with

4-13 section 6 of this act.

4-14 2. On or before April 1, 2001, submit a written report to the director of

4-15 the legislative counsel bureau for transmission to the 71st session of the

4-16 Nevada Legislature regarding the efficacy of the state program for the

4-17 financial support of local programs to improve the academic achievement

4-18 of pupils who are at risk established pursuant to section 6 of this act.

4-19 Sec. 13. 1. This section and section 11 of this act become effective

4-20 upon passage and approval.

4-21 2. Section 6 of this act becomes effective upon passage and approval

4-22 for the purpose of adopting regulations and on July 1, 1999, for all other

4-23 purposes.

4-24 3. Sections 1 to 5, inclusive, 7 to 10, inclusive, and 12 of this act

4-25 become effective on July 1, 1999.