(REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)

 

Senate Bill No. 127–Senator Washington

 

February 14, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

SUMMARY—Authorizes certain school districts to carry out demonstration projects in lieu of complying with class-size reduction program. (BDR S-172)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                             Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to education; authorizing school districts to submit written proposals for approval to carry out demonstration projects in lieu of complying with the class-size reduction program; authorizing a certain school district to continue its demonstration project; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. 1.  Except as otherwise authorized by section 2 of this act

1-2  and notwithstanding the provisions of NRS 388.700, 388.710 and 388.720

1-3  to the contrary:

1-4    (a) A school district that receives money for the 2001-2003 biennium to

1-5  comply with the pupil-teacher ratios set forth in NRS 388.700, may submit

1-6  a written proposal to the State Board of Education before the

1-7  commencement of the 2001-2002 school year to carry out a demonstration

1-8  project in which pupil-teacher ratios of 22 to 1 are established in

1-9  kindergarten and grades 1 to 5, inclusive, in school years 2001-2002 and

1-10  2002-2003 to eliminate team teaching.

1-11  (b) A school district that receives money for the 2002-2003 school year

1-12  to comply with the pupil-teacher ratios set forth in NRS 388.700, may

1-13  submit a written proposal to the State Board of Education before the

1-14  commencement of the 2002-2003 school year to carry out a demonstration

1-15  project in which pupil-teacher ratios of 22 to 1 are established in

1-16  kindergarten and grades 1 to 5, inclusive, in the 2002-2003 school year to

1-17  eliminate team teaching.

1-18  The written proposal must include, without limitation, the plan, if any, of

1-19  the school district to provide additional facilities as are necessary to carry

1-20  out the demonstration project.

1-21  2.  The State Board of Education shall:

2-1    (a) Not later than 10 days after it receives a proposal pursuant to

2-2  subsection 1, transmit a copy of the proposal to the Legislative Bureau of

2-3  Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation.

2-4    (b) Review each proposal that it receives and determine whether to

2-5  approve the proposal, including, without limitation, the proposal of the

2-6  school district to use the money that it receives for class-size reduction to

2-7  carry out the demonstration project regardless of the provisions of NRS

2-8  388.700.

2-9    (c) If the State Board of Education approves such a proposal, transmit

2-10  the proposal to the State Board of Examiners.

2-11  3.  The State Board of Examiners shall review each proposal

2-12  transmitted pursuant to subsection 2 and determine whether to approve the

2-13  proposal, including, without limitation, the proposal of the school district

2-14  to use the money that it receives for class-size reduction to carry out the

2-15  demonstration project regardless of the provisions of NRS 388.700. If the

2-16  State Board of Examiners approves such a proposal, it shall transmit the

2-17  proposal to the Interim Finance Committee.

2-18  4.  The Interim Finance Committee shall review each proposal

2-19  transmitted pursuant to subsection 3 to determine whether to approve the

2-20  proposal, including, without limitation, the proposal of the school district

2-21  to use the money that it receives for class-size reduction to carry out a

2-22  demonstration project regardless of the provisions of NRS 388.700. The

2-23  Interim Finance Committee is not bound by the findings or

2-24  recommendations of the State Board of Education or the State Board of

2-25  Examiners. If the Interim Finance Committee approves a proposal before

2-26  the commencement of the applicable school year, the school district may

2-27  carry out a demonstration project.

2-28  5.  If a school district carries out a demonstration project that has been

2-29  approved pursuant to this section, the school district shall:

2-30  (a) Be deemed in compliance with the pupil-teacher ratios set forth in

2-31  NRS 388.700 for the 2001-2003 biennium or the 2002-2003 school year, or

2-32  both, as applicable;

2-33  (b) Evaluate the effectiveness of the demonstration project in improving

2-34  pupil achievement; and

2-35  (c) If the proposal for the demonstration project was submitted pursuant

2-36  to:

2-37      (1) Paragraph (a) of subsection 1, report its findings in an interim

2-38  report to the Legislative Committee on Education on or before February

2-39  15, 2002, and a final report to the Director of the Legislative Counsel

2-40  Bureau for transmittal to the Nevada Legislature on or before February 15,

2-41  2003; or

2-42      (2) Paragraph (b) of subsection 1, report its findings in a final report

2-43  to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the

2-44  Nevada Legislature on or before February 15, 2003.

2-45  Sec. 2.  1.  The Elko County School District is hereby authorized to

2-46  use the money that it receives for the 2001-2003 biennium to comply with

2-47  the pupil-teacher ratios set forth in NRS 388.700 to continue in school

2-48  years 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, the demonstration project carried out by

2-49  the school district pursuant to section 9 of chapter 543, Statutes of Nevada

3-1  1999, at page 2841. The Elko County School District may expand the

3-2  demonstration project to include grade 6.

3-3    2.  If the Elko County School District continues the demonstration

3-4  project, the school district shall:

3-5    (a) Be deemed in compliance with the pupil-teacher ratios set forth in

3-6  NRS 388.700 for the 2001-2003 biennium;

3-7    (b) Evaluate the effectiveness of the demonstration project in improving

3-8  pupil achievement; and

3-9    (c) Report its findings in an interim report to the Legislative Committee

3-10  on Education on or before February 15, 2002, and a final report to the

3-11  Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Nevada

3-12  Legislature on or before February 15, 2003.

3-13  Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

 

3-14  H