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.

1-15 3. A probationary teacher and the administrator charged with the

1-16 supervision of the probationary teacher may agree in writing to

1-17 discontinue the assignment of the teacher who serves as the mentor for

2-1 the probationary teacher or select another teacher to serve as a mentor

2-2 for the probationary teacher.

2-3 4. A teacher who is assigned to serve as a mentor shall:

2-4 (a) Regularly consult with, observe and otherwise assist the

2-5 probationary teacher in improving his teaching skills during the period

2-6 of his probationary employment;

2-7 (b) Identify areas of weakness, if any, of the probationary teacher and

2-8 assist the teacher in improving upon those areas; and

2-9 (c) Recommend additional course work, supervised clinical experience

2-10 or supervised field experience for the probationary teacher if the mentor

2-11 believes that the course work or experience would improve the

2-12 performance of the probationary teacher.

2-13 5. A teacher who serves as a mentor shall not participate in:

2-14 (a) The evaluation of the performance of the probationary teacher.

2-15 (b) Any decision concerning the continuation of employment of the

2-16 probationary teacher.

2-17 6. A teacher who is assigned to serve as a mentor may be:

2-18 (a) Compensated for his services as a mentor; and

2-19 (b) Released from his other duties as necessary to provide assistance

2-20 as a mentor,

2-21 as provided by his contract of employment or any applicable collective

2-22 bargaining agreement.

2-23 7. Except as otherwise required by a court of competent jurisdiction,

2-24 any notes, memoranda or other communications, in whatever form,

2-25 between a probationary teacher and his mentor are confidential and

2-26 must not be released or disclosed by the mentor to a third person without

2-27 the written consent of the probationary teacher. A probationary teacher

2-28 must not be required to provide such consent as a condition of

2-29 employment or continued employment. A probationary teacher has the

2-30 privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any person from disclosing

2-31 any confidential communication between the probationary teacher and

2-32 his mentor.

2-33 8. A teacher who serves as a mentor to a probationary teacher is not

2-34 liable to the probationary teacher or to any third person for any loss or

2-35 damage caused by the performance of his duties as a mentor that occur

2-36 within the course and scope of his employment.

2-37 9. A collective bargaining agreement entered into by a school district

2-38 pursuant to chapter 288 of NRS that governs the employment of teachers

2-39 may provide for the evaluation or modification of the assistance provided

3-1 by mentors to probationary teachers if the terms of the collective

3-2 bargaining agreement do not conflict with the requirements of this

3-3 section.

3-4 10. As used in this section, "bargaining agent" has the meaning

3-5 ascribed to it in NRS 288.027.

3-6 Sec. 3. 1. The board of trustees of each school district shall

3-7 establish a committee for the professional development of teachers. Each

3-8 such committee shall design, develop and coordinate programs of

3-9 continuing education, training and other programs and activities to

3-10 promote the professional development of teachers employed by the school

3-11 district.

3-12 2. The board of trustees of a school district shall, in consultation

3-13 with the bargaining agent, if any, of the teachers employed by the school

3-14 district, appoint the members of the committee and set forth any

3-15 additional duties for the committee. A majority of the members of the

3-16 committee must be teachers, each of whom must have at least 5 years of

3-17 experience teaching.

3-18 3. As used in this section, "bargaining agent" has the meaning

3-19 ascribed to it in NRS 288.027.

3-20 Sec. 4. NRS 391.311 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-21 391.311 As used in NRS 391.3115 to 391.3197, inclusive, and section

3-41 during the absence of the superintendent.

4-1 8. "Teacher" means a licensed employee the majority of whose

4-2 working time is devoted to the rendering of direct educational service to

4-3 pupils of a school district.

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

4-5 391.3125 1. It is the intent of the legislature that a uniform system be

4-43 for the potential decision not to reemploy or refer to the evaluation in

5-1 which the reasons are stated. Such a notice is not required if the

5-2 probationary employee has received a letter of admonition during the

5-3 current school year.

5-4 [5.] 6. Each postprobationary teacher must be evaluated at least once

5-5 each year.

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

5-7 teacher must, if necessary, include recommendations for improvements in

5-8 his performance. A reasonable effort must be made to assist the teacher to

5-9 correct any deficiencies noted in the evaluation. The teacher must receive a

5-10 copy of each evaluation not later than 15 days after the evaluation. A copy

5-11 of the evaluation and the teacher’s response must be permanently attached

5-12 to the teacher’s personnel file.

5-13 Sec. 6. NRS 391.313 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-14 391.313 1. Whenever an administrator charged with supervision of a

5-43 391.3197, inclusive, without the admonition required by this section, on

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

6-2 NRS 391.312.

6-3 Sec. 7. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1999.