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. 1. The Clark County School District shall establish a pilot

1-2 program for educational programs of special emphasis.

1-3 2. The pilot program may include, without limitation, the establishment

1-4 of courses of study and curricula at certain public schools within the Clark

1-5 County School District that:

1-6 (a) Emphasize a particular area, field or topic of instruction; or

1-7 (b) Are taught in accordance with a particular method of instruction.

1-8 3. The educational programs of special emphasis established pursuant

1-9 to this section may be designed, without limitation, to:

1-10 (a) Respond to the needs of both pupils and business and industry by

1-11 using innovative instruction which is academically challenging to prepare

1-12 pupils to enter into vocations that are projected to require large numbers of

1-13 new employees in the future.

1-14 (b) Promote choice in education to foster academic excellence and

1-15 achievement and reform of the educational system.

2-1 (c) Maintain continuity in educational programs of special emphasis

2-2 through elementary, middle and high school.

2-3 (d) Establish measurable goals of achievement, including, without

2-4 limitation, those established pursuant to the Goals 2000: Educate America

2-5 Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 5801 et seq.

2-6 4. The Clark County School District shall:

2-7 (a) Ensure that the success of the pilot program for educational

2-8 programs of special emphasis is evaluated at least once each year by an

2-9 independent evaluator; and

2-10 (b) On or before December 31 of each year, submit to the state board of

2-11 education the contents of the evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph

2-12 (a), accompanied by any additional materials that the school district

2-13 determines to be relevant.

2-14 5. The State Board of Education shall prepare a report on its findings

2-15 with respect to the evaluations and materials that the board receives

2-16 pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 4 and shall, on or before
2-17 February 1, 2001, submit a copy of the report to the Director of the

2-18 Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the 71st session of the

2-19 Nevada Legislature.

2-20 Sec. 2. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to

2-21 the Clark County School District for the support of the pilot program for

2-22 educational programs of special emphasis:

2-23 For the fiscal year 1999-2000 $1,600,000

2-24 For the fiscal year 2000-2001 $1,600,000

2-25 2. The money appropriated pursuant to this section:

2-26 (a) Must be used at schools within the Clark County School District to:

2-27 (1) Develop and establish educational programs of special emphasis

2-28 that are available to pupils throughout the school district;

2-29 (2) Purchase equipment and supplies for use in educational programs

2-30 of special emphasis; and

2-31 (3) Supplement, but not replace, the money that the schools would

2-32 otherwise expend for educational programs of special emphasis in the

2-33 absence of this appropriation.

2-34 (b) Must not be used to settle or arbitrate disputes or negotiate

2-35 settlements between an organization that represents licensed employees of

2-36 the school district and the school district.

2-37 3. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1

2-38 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 2001, and reverts to

2-39 the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have

2-40 been made.

2-41 Sec. 3. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.