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 page

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

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

1-17 (1) Social studies.

2-1 (2) Computer education [.] and technology.

2-2 (3) Health and physical education.

2-3 (4) The arts.

2-4 2. The council shall submit written recommendations to the state

2-5 board of education:

2-6 (a) On or before November 1, 1998, on the type of examinations

2-7 of achievement and proficiency to be administered statewide that

2-8 may be used to measure the achievement of pupils in the standards

2-9 of content and performance established by the council pursuant to

2-10 paragraph (a) of subsection 1. The recommendations must include

2-11 the grades in which the examinations should be administered.

2-12 (b) On or before November 1, 1999, on the type of examinations

2-13 of achievement and proficiency in social studies to be administered

2-14 statewide that may be used to measure the achievement of pupils in

2-15 the standards of content and performance established by the council

2-16 pursuant to subparagraph (1) of paragraph (b) of subsection 1. The

2-17 recommendations must include the grades in which the examinations

2-18 should be administered.

2-19 3. In developing the standards and examinations pursuant to

2-20 subsections 1 and 2, the council shall:

2-21 (a) Hold at least eight meetings. The meetings must be held in at

2-22 least four different counties during the period commencing August

2-23 1, 1997, and expiring July 31, 1999. At least four of these meetings

2-24 must be held to hear public testimony concerning the proposed

2-25 standards of content and performance and the examinations of

2-26 achievement and proficiency.

2-27 (b) Consult with licensed educational personnel in the various

2-28 school districts and with other persons who have knowledge and

2-29 experience concerning standards of content and performance or

2-30 examinations of achievement and proficiency in education.

2-31 (c) Review and consider any standards of content and

2-32 performance and any examinations of achievement and proficiency:

2-33 (1) Adopted by this state;

2-34 (2) Adopted by the Commonwealth of Virginia or any other

2-35 states;

2-36 (3) Adopted by the Federal Government; or

2-37 (4) Advocated in publications of entities, including, but not

2-38 limited to, the "Standards Primer: A Resource for Accelerating the

2-39 Pace of Reform," published in 1996 by the Education Leaders

2-40 Council.

2-41 4. The state board of education shall adopt:

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

3-2 performance established by the council pursuant to paragraph (a) of

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

3-4 (b) Examinations of achievement and proficiency to be

3-5 administered statewide, commencing in the 1999-2000 school year,

3-6 to measure the achievement of pupils in the standards of content and

3-7 performance adopted by the state board of education pursuant to

3-8 paragraph (a). In adopting the examinations, the state board shall

3-9 consider the written recommendations submitted by the council

3-10 pursuant to subsection 2. The examinations must be scored by a

3-11 single private entity or the department of education.

3-12 (c) On or before January 1, 2000, the standards of content and

3-13 performance established by the council pursuant to paragraph (b) of

3-14 subsection 1, to take effect in the 2000-2001 school year.

3-15 (d) Examinations of achievement and proficiency in social

3-16 studies to be administered statewide, commencing in the 2000-2001

3-17 school year, to measure the achievement of pupils in social studies in

3-18 the standards of content and performance adopted by the state board

3-19 pursuant to paragraph (c). In adopting the examinations, the state

3-20 board shall consider the written recommendations submitted by the

3-21 council pursuant to subsection 2. The examinations must be scored

3-22 by a single private entity or the department of education.

3-23 5. The state board of education shall:

3-24 (a) On or before February 1, 1999, submit a written report to the

3-25 council and to the director of the legislative counsel bureau for

3-26 transmission to the 70th session of the Nevada legislature. The

3-27 written report must include a description of the standards adopted by

3-28 the state board of education.

3-29 (b) On or before February 1, 2001, submit a written report to the

3-30 council and to the director of the legislative counsel bureau for

3-31 transmission to the 71st session of the Nevada legislature. The

3-32 written report must include a description of the standards adopted by

3-33 the state board of education.

3-34 6. In addition to the duties prescribed in subsections 1 and 2, the

3-35 council shall:

3-36 (a) As soon as practicable, but not later than April 1, 1999:

3-37 (1) Submit to the governor, the senate standing committee on

3-38 finance and the assembly standing committee on ways and means,

3-39 written reports regarding the standards adopted by the state board of

3-40 education pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 4.

3-41 (2) Submit to the director of the legislative counsel bureau for

3-42 transmission to the 70th session of the Nevada legislature any

3-43 recommendations for legislation that the council deems are

4-1 necessary to incorporate into the public schools the standards that it

4-2 established pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 1.

4-3 (b) As soon as practicable, but not later than April 1, 2001:

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 (c) of subsection 4.

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

4-9 transmission to the 71st 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 paragraphs (a) or (b) of subsection 1.

4-13 7. The council shall, on or before June 30, 1999, and on or

4-14 before June 30, 2001, report to the legislative committee on

4-15 education, created pursuant to section 37 of this act, regarding the

4-16 standards and examinations adopted by the state board of education

4-17 pursuant to subsection 4.

4-18 8. The council shall, on or before June 30, 2001, coordinate its

4-19 duties pursuant to this section with the legislative bureau of

4-20 educational accountability and program evaluation, created pursuant

4-21 to section 41 of this act, to enable the bureau to continue the duties

4-22 of the council of evaluating and reporting after June 30, 2001.

4-23 9. For the purposes of this section, "social studies" includes

4-24 the subjects of history, geography, economics and government.

4-25 Sec. 2. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.