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. Section 45 of chapter 473, Statutes of Nevada 1997, at

1-2 page 1780, is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-3 Sec. 45. 1. The council to establish academic standards for

1-14 performance, including, without limitation, a prescription of the

2-1 resulting level of achievement, based upon the content of each

2-2 course, that is expected of pupils for the following courses of study:

2-3 (1) Social studies.

2-4 (2) Computer education.

2-5 (3) Health and physical education.

2-6 (4) The arts.

2-7 2. The council shall submit written recommendations to the

2-8 state board of education:

2-9 (a) On or before November 1, 1998, on the type of examinations

2-10 of achievement and proficiency to be administered statewide that

2-11 may be used to measure the achievement of pupils in the standards

2-12 of content and performance established by the council pursuant to

2-13 paragraph (a) of subsection 1. The recommendations must include

2-14 the grades in which the examinations should be administered.

2-15 (b) On or before November 1, 1999, on the type of examinations

2-16 of achievement and proficiency in social studies to be administered

2-17 statewide that may be used to measure the achievement of pupils in

2-18 the standards of content and performance established by the council

2-19 pursuant to subparagraph (1) of paragraph (b) of subsection 1. The

2-20 recommendations must include the grades in which the

2-21 examinations should be administered.

2-22 3. In developing the standards and examinations pursuant to

2-23 subsections 1 and 2, the council shall:

2-24 (a) Hold at least eight meetings. The meetings must be held in at

2-25 least four different counties during the period commencing
2-26 August 1, 1997, and expiring July 31, 1999. At least four of these

2-27 meetings must be held to hear public testimony concerning the

2-28 proposed standards of content and performance and the

2-29 examinations of achievement and proficiency.

2-30 (b) Consult with licensed educational personnel in the various

2-31 school districts and with other persons who have knowledge and

2-32 experience concerning standards of content and performance or

2-33 examinations of achievement and proficiency in education.

2-34 (c) Review and consider any standards of content and

2-35 performance and any examinations of achievement and proficiency:

2-36 (1) Adopted by this state;

2-37 (2) Adopted by the Commonwealth of Virginia or any other

2-38 states;

2-39 (3) Adopted by the Federal Government; or

2-40 (4) Advocated in publications of entities, including, but not

2-41 limited to, the "Standards Primer: A Resource for Accelerating the

2-42 Pace of Reform," published in 1996 by the Education Leaders

2-43 Council.

3-1 4. The state board of education shall adopt:

3-2 (a) On or before January 1, 1999, the standards of content and

3-3 performance established by the council pursuant to paragraph (a) of

3-4 subsection 1, to take effect in the 1999-2000 school year.

3-5 (b) Examinations of achievement and proficiency to be

3-6 administered statewide, commencing in the [1999-2000] 2000-2001

3-7 school year, to measure the achievement of pupils in the standards

3-8 of content and performance adopted by the state board of education

3-9 pursuant to paragraph (a). In adopting the examinations, the state

3-10 board shall consider the written recommendations submitted by the

3-11 council pursuant to subsection 2. The examinations must be scored

3-12 by a single private entity or the department of education. In the first

3-13 year that the examinations are administered, the results of the

3-14 examinations must be used solely to gather information and data

3-15 concerning the examinations.

3-16 (c) On or before [January 1,] February 28, 2000, the standards

3-17 of content and performance established by the council pursuant to

3-18 paragraph (b) of subsection 1, to take effect in the 2000-2001

3-19 school year.

3-20 (d) Examinations of achievement and proficiency in social

3-21 studies to be administered statewide, commencing in the [2000-

3-22 2001] 2001-2002 school year, to measure the achievement of pupils

3-23 in social studies in the standards of content and performance

3-24 adopted by the state board pursuant to paragraph (c). In adopting

3-25 the examinations, the state board shall consider the written

3-26 recommendations submitted by the council pursuant to subsection

3-27 2. The examinations must be scored by a single private entity or the

3-28 department of education. In the first year that the examinations

3-29 are administered, the results of the examinations must be used

3-30 solely to gather information and data concerning the

3-31 examinations.

3-32 5. The state board of education shall:

3-33 (a) On or before February 1, 1999, submit a written report to the

3-34 council and to the director of the legislative counsel bureau for

3-35 transmission to the 70th session of the Nevada legislature. The

3-36 written report must include a description of the standards adopted

3-37 by the state board of education.

3-38 (b) On or before February 1, 2001, submit a written report to the

3-39 council and to the director of the legislative counsel bureau for

3-40 transmission to the 71st session of the Nevada legislature. The

3-41 written report must include a description of the standards adopted

3-42 by the state board of education.

4-1 6. In addition to the duties prescribed in subsections 1 and 2,

4-2 the council shall:

4-3 (a) As soon as practicable, but not later than April 1, 1999:

4-4 (1) Submit to the governor, the senate standing committee on

4-5 finance and the assembly standing committee on ways and means,

4-6 written reports regarding the standards adopted by the state board of

4-7 education pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 4.

4-8 (2) Submit to the director of the legislative counsel bureau for

4-9 transmission to the 70th session of the Nevada legislature any

4-10 recommendations for legislation that the council deems are

4-11 necessary to incorporate into the public schools the standards that it

4-12 established pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 1.

4-13 (b) As soon as practicable, but not later than April 1, 2001:

4-14 (1) Submit to the governor, the senate standing committee on

4-15 finance and the assembly standing committee on ways and means,

4-16 written reports regarding the standards adopted by the state board of

4-17 education pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 4.

4-18 (2) Submit to the director of the legislative counsel bureau for

4-19 transmission to the 71st session of the Nevada legislature any

4-20 recommendations for legislation that the council deems are

4-21 necessary to incorporate into the public schools the standards that it

4-22 established pursuant to paragraphs (a) or (b) of subsection 1.

4-23 7. The council shall, on or before June 30, 1999, and on or

4-24 before June 30, 2001, report to the legislative committee on

4-25 education, created pursuant to section 37 of this act, regarding the

4-26 standards and examinations that have been adopted by the state

4-27 board of education pursuant to subsection 4.

4-28 8. The council shall, on or before June 30, 2001, coordinate its

4-29 duties pursuant to this section with the legislative bureau of

4-30 educational accountability and program evaluation, created pursuant

4-31 to section 41 of this act, to enable the bureau to continue the duties

4-32 of the council of evaluating and reporting after June 30, 2001.

4-33 Sec. 2. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.