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 391 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

1-2 the provisions set forth as sections 2 and 3 of this act.

1-3 Sec. 2. 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the

1-4 superintendent of schools of a school district, in consultation with the

1-5 bargaining agent, if any, of the teachers employed by the school district,

1-6 shall select a teacher to serve as a mentor for each probationary teacher.

1-7 A teacher who is selected to serve as a mentor must have at least 5 years

1-8 of successful teaching experience with the school district in which he is

1-9 employed. A teacher may be assigned to serve as a mentor to a

1-10 probationary teacher only if the mentor provides his written consent to

1-11 the assignment.

1-12 2. The superintendent of schools is not required to assign a mentor to

1-13 a probationary teacher if the probationary teacher has previous

1-14 nonprobationary teaching experience.

2-1 3. A probationary teacher and the administrator charged with the

2-2 supervision of the probationary teacher may agree in writing to

2-3 discontinue the assignment of the teacher who serves as the mentor for

2-4 the probationary teacher or select another teacher to serve as a mentor

2-5 for the probationary teacher.

2-6 4. A teacher who is assigned to serve as a mentor shall:

2-7 (a) Regularly consult with, observe and otherwise assist the

2-8 probationary teacher in improving his teaching skills during the period

2-9 of his probationary employment;

2-10 (b) Identify areas of weakness, if any, of the probationary teacher and

2-11 assist the teacher in improving upon those areas; and

2-12 (c) Recommend additional course work, supervised clinical experience

2-13 or supervised field experience for the probationary teacher if the mentor

2-14 believes that the course work or experience would improve the

2-15 performance of the probationary teacher.

2-16 5. A teacher who serves as a mentor shall not participate in:

2-17 (a) The evaluation of the performance of the probationary teacher.

2-18 (b) Any decision concerning the continuation of employment of the

2-19 probationary teacher.

2-20 6. A teacher who is assigned to serve as a mentor is entitled to be:

2-21 (a) Compensated for his services as a mentor, as provided by his

2-22 contract of employment or any applicable collective bargaining

2-23 agreement; and

2-24 (b) Released from his other duties as necessary to provide assistance

2-25 as a mentor, as provided by his contract of employment or any applicable

2-26 collective bargaining agreement.

2-27 The superintendent of schools of a school district shall not require a

2-28 teacher to serve as a mentor unless the teacher receives the compensation

2-29 and time for release required by this subsection.

2-30 7. Except as otherwise required by a court of competent jurisdiction,

2-31 any notes, memoranda or other communications, in whatever form,

2-32 between a probationary teacher and his mentor are confidential and

2-33 must not be released or disclosed by the mentor to a third person without

2-34 the written consent of the probationary teacher. A probationary teacher

2-35 must not be required to provide such consent as a condition of

2-36 employment or continued employment. A probationary teacher has the

2-37 privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any person from disclosing

2-38 any confidential communication between the probationary teacher and

2-39 his mentor.

2-40 8. A teacher who serves as a mentor to a probationary teacher is not

2-41 liable to the probationary teacher or to any third person for any loss or

2-42 damage caused by the performance of his duties as a mentor that occur

2-43 within the course and scope of his employment.

3-1 9. A collective bargaining agreement entered into by a school district

3-2 pursuant to chapter 288 of NRS that governs the employment of teachers

3-3 may provide for the evaluation or modification of the assistance provided

3-4 by mentors to probationary teachers if the terms of the collective

3-5 bargaining agreement do not conflict with the requirements of this

3-6 section.

3-7 10. As used in this section, "bargaining agent" has the meaning

3-8 ascribed to it in NRS 288.027.

3-9 Sec. 3. 1. The board of trustees of each school district shall

3-10 establish a committee for the professional development of teachers. Each

3-11 such committee shall design, develop and coordinate programs of

3-12 continuing education, training and other programs and activities to

3-13 promote the professional development of teachers employed by the school

3-14 district.

3-15 2. The board of trustees of a school district shall, in consultation

3-16 with the bargaining agent, if any, of the teachers employed by the school

3-17 district, appoint the members of the committee and set forth any

3-18 additional duties for the committee. A majority of the members of the

3-19 committee must be teachers, each of whom must have at least 5 years of

3-20 experience teaching.

3-21 3. As used in this section, "bargaining agent" has the meaning

3-22 ascribed to it in NRS 288.027.

3-23 Sec. 4. NRS 391.311 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-24 391.311 As used in NRS 391.3115 to 391.3197, inclusive, and section

3-41 is employed for the period set forth in NRS 391.3197.

4-1 7. "Superintendent" means the superintendent of a school district or a

4-2 person designated by the board or superintendent to act as superintendent

4-3 during the absence of the superintendent.

4-4 8. "Teacher" means a licensed employee the majority of whose

4-5 working time is devoted to the rendering of direct educational service to

4-6 pupils of a school district.

4-7 Sec. 5. NRS 391.3125 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-8 391.3125 1. It is the intent of the legislature that a uniform system be

4-43 probationary period, he shall bring the matter to the employee’s attention

5-1 in a written document which is separate from the evaluation no later than

5-2 February 15 of the current school year. The notice must include the

5-3 reasons for the potential decision not to reemploy or refer to the evaluation

5-4 in which the reasons are stated. Such a notice is not required if the

5-5 probationary employee has received a letter of admonition during the

5-6 current school year.

5-7 [5.] 6. Each postprobationary teacher must be evaluated at least once

5-8 each year.

5-9 [6.] 7. The evaluation of a probationary teacher or a postprobationary

5-10 teacher must, if necessary, include recommendations for improvements in

5-11 his performance. A reasonable effort must be made to assist the teacher to

5-12 correct any deficiencies noted in the evaluation. The teacher must receive a

5-13 copy of each evaluation not later than 15 days after the evaluation. A copy

5-14 of the evaluation and the teacher’s response must be permanently attached

5-15 to the teacher’s personnel file.

5-16 Sec. 6. NRS 391.313 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-17 391.313 1. Whenever an administrator charged with supervision of a

5-43 such decision is made.

6-1 3. A licensed employee is subject to immediate dismissal or a refusal

6-2 to reemploy according to the procedures provided in NRS 391.311 to

6-3 391.3197, inclusive, without the admonition required by this section, on

6-4 grounds contained in paragraphs (b), (f), (g), (h) and (p) of subsection 1 of

6-5 NRS 391.312.

6-6 Sec. 7. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1999.