Senate Bill No. 585–Committee on Finance
CHAPTER..........
AN ACT relating to public schools; apportioning the state distributive school account in the state general fund for the 2001-2003 biennium; authorizing certain expenditures; providing for a final adjustment following the close of a fiscal year; making various other changes concerning the administration of money for public schools; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The basic support guarantee for school districts for
operating purposes for the 2001-2002 fiscal year is an estimated weighted
average of $3,897 per pupil. For each respective school district, the basic
support guarantee per pupil for the 2001-2002 fiscal year is:
Carson City.............................................. $4,435
Churchill County....................................... $4,894
Clark County............................................ $3,731
Douglas County........................................ $4,135
Elko County............................................. $4,781
Esmeralda County..................................... $7,861
Eureka County.......................................... $3,052
Humboldt County..................................... $4,749
Lander County.......................................... $4,314
Lincoln County......................................... $7,229
Lyon County............................................ $5,025
Mineral County......................................... $5,415
Nye County.............................................. $5,018
Pershing County....................................... $5,706
Storey County.......................................... $6,292
Washoe County........................................ $3,777
White Pine County.................................... $5,596
Sec. 2. 1. The basic support guarantee for school districts for
operating purposes for the 2002-2003 fiscal year is an estimated weighted
average of $3,991 per pupil.
2. On or before April 1, 2002, the Department of Taxation shall
provide a certified estimate of the assessed valuation for each school
district for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. The assessed valuation for each
school district must be that which is taxable for purposes of providing
revenue to school districts, including any assessed valuation attributable to
the net proceeds of minerals derived from within the boundaries of the
district.
3. Pursuant to NRS 362.115, on or before April 25 of each year, the
Department of Taxation shall provide an estimate of the net proceeds of
minerals based upon statements required of mine operators.
4. For purposes of establishing the basic support guarantee, the
estimated basic support guarantees for each school district for the 2002
-2003 fiscal year for operating purposes are:
Basic Estimated
Support Basic
Guarantee Estimated Support
Before Ad ValoremGuarantee
School DistrictAdjustment Adjustmentas Adjusted
Carson City $3,904 $638 $4,542
Churchill County $4,560 $457 $5,017
Clark County $3,011 $807 $3,818
Douglas County$2,936 $1,288 $4,224
Elko County $4,388 $512 $4,900
Esmeralda County$5,378 $2,648 $8,026
Eureka County$(6,512) $9,488 $2,976
Humboldt County$4,007 $854 $4,861
Lander County $2,881 $1,523 $4,404
Lincoln County $6,922 $493 $7,415
Lyon County $4,572 $577 $5,149
Mineral County $5,043 $509 $5,552
Nye County $4,309 $830 $5,139
Pershing County $4,869 $973 $5,842
Storey County $4,879 $1,555 $6,434
Washoe County $3,007 $857 $3,864
White Pine County$5,293 $445 $5,738
5. The ad valorem adjustment may be made only to take into account
the difference in the assessed valuation and the estimated enrollment of the
school district between the amount estimated as of April 1, 2001, and the
amount estimated as of April 1, 2002, for the 2002-2003 fiscal year.
Estimates of net proceeds of minerals received from the Department of
Taxation on or before April 25 pursuant to subsection 3 must be taken into
consideration in determining the adjustment.
6. Upon receipt of the certified estimates of assessed valuations as of
April 1, 2002, from the Department of Taxation, the Department of
Education shall recalculate the amount of ad valorem adjustment and the
tentative basic support guarantee for operating purposes for the 2002-2003
fiscal year by April 15, 2002. The final basic support guarantee for each
school district for the 2002-2003 fiscal year is the amount, which is
recalculated for the 2002-2003 fiscal year pursuant to this section, taking
into consideration estimates of net proceeds of minerals received from the
Department of Taxation on or before April 25, 2002. The basic support
guarantee recalculated pursuant to this section must be calculated before
May 31, 2002.
Sec. 3. 1. The basic support guarantee for each special education
program unit that is maintained and operated for at least 9 months of a
school year is $29,977 in the 2001-2002 fiscal year and $30,576 in the
2002-2003 fiscal year, except as limited by subsection 2.
2. The maximum number of units and amount of basic support for
special education program units within each of the school districts, before
any reallocation pursuant to NRS 387.1221, for the fiscal years 2001-2002
and 2002-2003 are:
Allocation of Special Education Units
2001-2002 2002-2003
DISTRICT Units Amount Units Amount
Carson City 78 $2,338,206 80$2,446,080
Churchill County43 $1,289,011 44$1,345,344
Clark County1,437$43,076,949 1,519$46,444,944
Douglas County 61 $1,828,597 62$1,895,712
Elko County 80 $2,398,160 81$2,476,656
Esmeralda County3 $89,931 3 $91,728
Eureka County 4 $119,908 4 $122,304
Humboldt County 29$869,333 29 $886,704
Lander County 14 $419,678 14 $428,064
Lincoln County17 $509,609 17 $519,792
Lyon County 52 $1,558,804 54$1,651,104
Mineral County 10 $299,770 11 $336,336
Nye County 42 $1,259,034 44$1,345,344
Pershing County 14 $419,678 14 $428,064
Storey County 8 $239,816 8 $244,608
Washoe County 451$13,519,627 471$14,401,296
White Pine County 19$569,563 19 $580,944
Subtotal 2,362$70,805,674 2,474$75,645,024
Reserved by State
Board of Education 40$1,199,080 40 $1,223,040
TOTAL 2,402$72,004,754 2,514$76,868,064
3. The State Board of Education shall reserve 40 special education
program units in each fiscal year of the 2001-2003 biennium, to be
allocated to school districts by the State Board of Education to meet
additional needs that cannot be met by the allocations provided in
subsection 2 to school districts for that fiscal year. In addition, charter
schools in this state are authorized to apply directly to the Department of
Education for the reserved special education program units, which may
allocated upon approval of the State Board of Education.
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections 2 and 3, the State
Board of Education is authorized to spend from the state distributive
school account up to $157,168 in the fiscal year 2001-2002 for 5.24
special education program units and $167,321 in the fiscal year 2002-2003
for 5.47 special education program units for instructional programs
incorporating educational technology for gifted and talented pupils. Any
school district may submit a written application to the Department of
Education requesting one or more of the units for gifted and talented
pupils. For each fiscal year of the 2001-2003 biennium, the Department
will award the units for gifted and talented pupils based on a review of
applications received from school districts.
Sec. 4. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund
to the state distributive school account in the state general fund created
pursuant to NRS 387.030:
For the 2001-2002 fiscal year........... $496,299,288
For the 2002-2003 fiscal year........... $543,255,885
2. The money appropriated by subsection 1 must be:
(a) Expended in accordance with NRS 353.150 to 353.245, inclusive,
concerning the allotment, transfer, work program and budget; and
(b) Work-programmed for the 2 separate fiscal years, 2001-2002 and
2002-2003, as required by NRS 353.215. Work programs may be revised
with the approval of the Governor upon the recommendation of the Chief
of the Budget Division of the Department of Administration.
3. Transfers to and from allotments must be allowed and made in
accordance with NRS 353.215 to 353.225, inclusive, after separate
considerations of the merits of each request.
4. The sums appropriated by subsection 1 are available for either fiscal
year. Money may be transferred from one fiscal year to the other with the
approval of the Governor upon the recommendation of the Chief of the
Budget Division of the Department of Administration.
5. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1
for the 2001-2002 fiscal year must be transferred and added to the money
appropriated for the 2002-2003 fiscal year and may be expended as that
money is expended.
6. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1
for the 2002-2003 fiscal year, including any money added thereto pursuant
to the provisions of subsections 3 and 5, must not be committed for
expenditure after June 30, 2003, and reverts to the state general fund as
soon as all payments of money committed have been made.
Sec. 5. 1. Expenditure of $146,822,050 by the Department of
Education from money in the state distributive school account that was not
appropriated from the state general fund is hereby authorized during the
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2001.
2. Expenditure of $151,122,258 by the Department of Education from
money in the state distributive school account that was not appropriated
from the state general fund is hereby authorized during the fiscal year
beginning July 1, 2002.
3. For purposes of accounting and reporting, the sums authorized for
expenditure by subsections 1 and 2 are considered to be expended before
any appropriation is made to the state distributive school account from the
state general fund.
4. The money authorized to be expended by subsections 1 and 2 must
be expended in accordance with NRS 353.150 to 353.245, inclusive,
concerning the allotment, transfer, work program and budget. Transfers to
and from allotments must be allowed and made in accordance with NRS
353.215 to 353.225, inclusive, after separate consideration of the merits of
each request.
5. The Chief of the Budget Division of the Department of
Administration may, with the approval of the Governor, authorize the
augmentation of the amounts authorized for expenditure by the
Department of Education, in subsections 1 and 2, for the purpose of
meeting obligations
of the state incurred under chapter 387 of NRS with amounts from any
other state agency, from any agency of local government, from any agency
of the Federal Government or from any other source that he determines is
in excess of the amount taken into consideration by this act. The Chief of
the Budget Division of the Department of Administration shall reduce any
authorization whenever he determines that money to be received will be
less than the amount authorized in subsections 1 and 2.
Sec. 6. During each of the fiscal years 2001-2002 and 2002-2003,
whenever the State Controller finds that current claims against the state
distributive school account in the state general fund exceed the amount
available in the account to pay those claims, he may advance temporarily
from the state general fund to the state distributive school account the
amount required to pay the claims, but not more than the amount expected
to be received in the current fiscal year from any source authorized for the
state distributive school account. No amount may be transferred unless
requested by the Chief of the Budget Division of the Department of
Administration.
Sec. 7. The Department of Education is hereby authorized to spend
from the state distributive school account the sums of $14,692,482 for the
2001-2002 fiscal year and $15,641,566 for the 2002-2003 fiscal year for
the support of courses which are approved by the Department of Education
as meeting the course of study for an adult standard high school diploma
as approved by the State Board of Education. In each fiscal year of the
2001-2003 biennium, the sum authorized must be allocated among the
various school districts in accordance with a plan or formula developed by
the Department of Education to ensure the money is distributed equitably
and in a manner that permits accounting for the expenditures of school
districts.
Sec. 8. The Department of Education is hereby authorized to provide
from the state distributive school account the sum of $50,000 to each of
the 17 school districts in each fiscal year of the 2001-2003 biennium to
support special counseling services for elementary school pupils at risk of
failure.
Sec. 9. The amounts of the guarantees set forth in sections 1 and 2 of
this act may be reduced to effectuate a reserve required pursuant to NRS
353.225.
Sec. 10. 1. The Department of Education shall transfer from the
state distributive school account to the school districts specified in this
section the following sums for fiscal years 2001-2002 and 2002-2003:
School District 2001-2002 2002-2003
Clark County School District$2,130,044$2,500,456
Douglas County School District$740,885$869,724
Elko County School District$787,190 $924,082
Washoe County School District$972,411$1,141,513
$4,630,530 $5,435,775
2. A school district that receives an allocation pursuant to subsection 1
shall use the money to maintain and continue the operation of a regional
training program for the professional development of teachers and
administrators initially established by the school district pursuant to
section 16 of chapter 559, Statutes of Nevada 1999, at page 2930.
3. Any remaining balance of the transfers made by subsection 1 for the
2001-2002 fiscal year must be added to the money received by the school
districts for the 2002-2003 fiscal year and may be expended as that money
is expended. Any remaining balance of the transfers made by subsection 1
for the 2001-2002 fiscal year, including any money added from the
transfer for the previous fiscal year, must not be committed for
expenditure after June 30, 2003, and reverts to the state distributive school
account as soon as all payments of money committed have been made.
Sec. 11. The Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and
Program Evaluation is hereby authorized to receive from the state
distributive school account to spend for an evaluation of the regional
training programs for the professional development of teachers and
administrators, initially established pursuant to section 16 of chapter 559,
Statutes of Nevada 1999, at page 2930:
For the fiscal year 2001-2002................... $65,000
For the fiscal year 2002-2003................... $65,000
2. Any remaining balance of the sums authorized for expenditure by
subsection 1 for the 2001-2002 fiscal year must be added to the money
authorized for expenditure for the 2002-2003 fiscal year and may be
expended as that money is expended. Any remaining balance of the sums
authorized for expenditure pursuant tosubsection 1 for the 2001-2002
fiscal year, including any money added from the authorization for the
previous fiscal year, must not be committed for expenditure after June 30,
2003, and reverts to the state distributive school account as soon as all
payments of money committed have been made.
Sec. 12. 1. The Department of Education shall transfer from the
state distributive school account to the school districts specified in this
section the following sums for fiscal years 2001-2002 and 2002-2003:
School District 2001-2002 2002-2003
Clark County School District$2,754,339$2,754,339
Douglas County School District$347,814$347,814
Elko County School District$432,612 $432,612
Washoe County School District$900,235$900,235
$4,435,000 $4,435,000
2. A school district that receives an allocation pursuant to subsection 1:
(a) Shall use the money to establish a Nevada Early Literacy
Intervention Program, through the regional training program initially
established by the school district pursuant to section 16 of chapter 559,
Statutes of Nevada 1999, at page 2930, for the purpose of providing
training for teachers who teach kindergarten and grades 1, 2 and 3, on
methods to teach fundamental reading skills, including, without limitation:
(1) Phonemic awareness;
(2) Phonics;
(3) Vocabulary;
(4) Fluency;
(5) Comprehension; and
(6) Motivation.
(b) Shall use the money for purposes of the Nevada Early Literacy
Intervention Program, upon approval of the governing body of the regional
training program, including, without limitation, paying:
(1) The salaries and travel expenses of staff and other personnel
necessary to the operation of the Nevada Early Literacy Intervention
Program;
(2) Related administrative expenses; and
(3) The costs incurred to acquire equipment and space to operate the
Nevada Early Literacy Intervention Program.
(c) Shall use the money to pay for the travel expenses of teachers who
attend the regional training program for purposes of the Nevada Early
Literacy Intervention Program.
(d) May use the money to provide incentives for teachers to attend the
regional training program for purposes of the Nevada Early Literacy
Intervention Program, including, without limitation, the:
(1) Arrangement for credit toward renewal of a license or an
endorsement for a license;
(2) Provision of books, supplies or instructional materials for the
classroom; and
(3) Provision of stipends.
(e) Shall use the money to supplement and not replace the money that
the school district or regional training program would otherwise expend
for training for early literacy programs as described in this section.
3. The training required pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 2
must:
(a) Include appropriate procedures to ensure follow-up training for
teachers who have received training through the Nevada Early Literacy
Intervention Program.
(b) Incorporate training that addresses the educational needs of:
(1) Pupils with disabilities who participate in programs of special
education; and
(2) Pupils whose primary language is not English.
4. The governing body of each regional training program shall:
(a) Prepare and maintain a list that identifies programs for the Nevada
Early Literacy Intervention Program that successfully incorporate
fundamental reading skills. The governing body shall provide a copy of
the list on an annual basis to school districts for dissemination to teachers
and administrators.
(b) Establish a method for the evaluation of the success of the Nevada
Early Literacy Intervention Program.
(c) On or before July 1 of each year, submit an annual report to the
Governor, State Board of Education, Council to Establish Academic
Standards for Public Schools, Legislative Committee on Education and
Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation
that includes:
(1) The type of training offered through the Nevada Early Literacy
Intervention Program in the immediately preceding year;
(2) The number of teachers, by grade, who received training through
the Nevada Early Literacy Intervention Program in the immediately
preceding year; and
(3) An evaluation of the success of the Nevada Early Literacy
Intervention Program in accordance with the method established pursuant
to paragraph (b).
5. The board of trustees of each school district shall submit an annual
report to the Governor, State Board of Education, Council to Establish
Academic Standards for Public Schools, Legislative Committee on
Education and Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and
Program Evaluation that includes for the immediately preceding year:
(a) The number of teachers, by grade, employed by the school district
who received training through the Nevada Early Literacy Intervention
Program; and
(b) An evaluation of whether that training successfully incorporated the
fundamental reading skills set forth in paragraph (a) of subsection 2.
6. Any remaining balance of the transfers made by subsection 1 for the
2001-2002 fiscal year must be added to the money received by the school
districts for the 2002-2003 fiscal year and may be expended as that money
is expended. Any remaining balance of the transfers made by subsection 1
for the 2002-2003 fiscal year, including any money added from the
transfer for the previous fiscal year, must not be committed for
expenditure after June 30, 2003, and reverts to the state distributive school
account as soon as all payments of money committed have been made.
Sec. 13. 1. The Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability
and Program Evaluationis hereby authorized to receive from the state
distributive school account to spend for an evaluation of the Nevada Early
Literacy Intervention Program established pursuant to section 12 of this
act:
For the fiscal year 2001-2002................... $65,000
For the fiscal year 2002-2003................... $65,000
2. The Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program
Evaluation shall, after consulting with the Statewide Council for the
Coordination of the Regional Training Programs, if applicable, use the
money authorized by subsection 1 to hire a qualified, independent
consultant to conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Nevada
Early Literacy Intervention Program.
3. The evaluation must include, without limitation, a review of the
annual reports submitted by the governing body of each regional training
program pursuant to subsection 4 of section 12 of this act and the annual
reports submitted by the board of trustees of each school district pursuant
to subsection 5 of section 12 of this act.
4. On or before February 1, 2003, the consultant shall submit a written
report of the results of his evaluation to the Legislative Bureau of
Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation. On or before
February 19, 2003, the Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability
and Program Evaluation shall submit a copy of the written evaluation,
including any recommendations for legislation, to the Director of the
Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the 72nd session of the
Nevada Legislature.
5. Any remaining balance of the sums authorized for expenditure by
subsection 1 for the 2001-2002 fiscal year must be added to the money
authorized for the 2002-2003 fiscal year and may be expended as that
money is expended. Any remaining balance of the transfers made by
subsection 1 for the 2001-2002 fiscal year, including any money added
from the authorization for the previous fiscal year, must not be committed
for expenditure after June 30, 2003, and reverts to the state distributive
school account as soon as all payments of money committed have been
made.
Sec. 14. 1. The Department of Education shall transfer from the
state distributive school account the following sums for remedial
education programs for schools that have been designated as
demonstrating need for improvement and certain schools that have been
designated as demonstrating adequate achievement:
For the fiscal year 2001-2002.............. $5,750,000
For the fiscal year 2002-2003.............. $5,750,000
The money allocated must be used to provide remedial education programs
that have been approved by the Department as being effective in
improving pupil achievement.
2. A school may submit an application to the Department of Education
for transmission to the State Board of Examiners for an allocation from the
amount authorized by subsection 1 if the school:
(a) Receives a designation as demonstrating need for improvement
pursuant to NRS 385.367.
(b) Did not receive a designation because the school had too few pupils
enrolled in a grade level that is tested pursuant to NRS 389.015, but the
test scores of the pupils indicate that the school would have received a
designation as demonstrating need for improvement.
(c) Receives a designation as demonstrating adequate achievement, but
more than 40 percent of the pupils enrolled in the school received an
average score below the 26th percentile on one or more of the four
subjects tested pursuant to NRS 389.015.
(d) Was designated as demonstrating need for improvement pursuant to
NRS 385.367 in the immediately preceding school year.
3. The Department of Education shall, in consultation with the Budget
Division of the Department of Administration and the Legislative Bureau
of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation, develop a form for
such applications. The form must include, without limitation, a notice that:
(a) Money received by a school to implement or continue remedial
education programs that have been approved by the Department as being
effective in improving pupil achievement will be used to implement or
continue the programs in a manner that has been approved by the vendor
of the remedial program; and
(b) If money is authorized for programs of remedial study for the 2003
-2005 biennium by the 72nd session of the Nevada Legislature, a school
that:
(1) Receives a designation as demonstrating adequate achievement;
(2) Has received an allocation for programs of remedial study for the
immediately preceding 2 years; and
(3) Applies for an allocation for a third consecutive year,
may be required to match the allocation equally with other money available
to the school.
4. Upon receipt of an application submitted pursuant to subsection 2,
the Department of Education shall review the application jointly with the
Budget Division of the Department of Administration and the Legislative
Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation. The
Department of Education shall transmit the application to the State Board
of Examiners with the recommendation of the Department of Education
concerning the allocation of money based upon each application so
received. The State Board of Examiners, or the Clerk of the Board if
authorized by the Board to act on its behalf, shall consider each such
application and, if it finds that an allocation should be made, recommend
the amount of the allocation to the Interim Finance Committee. The
Interim Finance Committee shall consider each such recommendation, but
is not bound to follow the recommendation of the State Board of
Examiners when determining the allocation to be received by a school. In
determining the amount of the allocation, the State Board of Examiners
and the Interim Finance Committee shall consider:
(a) The total number of pupils enrolled in the school who failed to
demonstrate at least adequate achievement on the examinations
administered pursuant to NRS 389.015;
(b) The number of subjects tested pursuant to NRS 389.015 on which
more than 40 percent of the pupils enrolled in the school received an
average score below the 26th percentile; and
(c) The financial need of the particular school.
6. In addition to the considerations set forth in subsection 5, in
determining whether to approve an application for a school that has
received an allocation in the immediately preceding year and in
determining the amount of the allocation for such a school, the State Board
of Examiners and the Interim Finance Committee shall consider whether
the school has carried out the program of remedial study for which it
received an allocation in a manner that has been approved by the vendor of
the remedial program and whether the program has been successful, as
measured by the academic achievement of the pupils enrolled in the school
on the examinations administered pursuant to NRS 389.015 and any
assessments related to the program of remedial study.
7. A school that receives an allocation of money pursuant to this
section shall use the money to:
(a) Pay the costs incurred by the school in providing the program of
remedial study required by NRS 385.389. The money must first be applied
to those pupils who the school determines are performing at a level that
poses the highest risk of failure.
(b) Pay for the salaries, training or other compensation of teachers and
other educational personnel to provide the program of remedial study,
instructional materials required for the program of remedial study,
equipment necessary to offer the program of remedial study and all other
additional operating costs attributable to the program of remedial study, to
the extent that the training, materials and equipment are those that are
approved by the vendor of theremedial program.
(c) Supplement and not replace the money the school would otherwise
expend for programs of remedial study.
8. Before a school amends a plan for expenditure of an allocation of
money received pursuant to this section, the school district in which the
school is located must submit the proposed amendment to the Department
of Education to receive approval from the Department of Education, the
Budget Division of the Department of Administration and the Legislative
Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation, or the
Interim Finance Committee.
9. The sums authorized for expenditure in subsection 1 are available for
either fiscal year. Any remaining balance of those sums must not be
committed for expenditure after June 30, 2003, and reverts to the state
distributive school account as soon as all payments of money committed
have been made.
Sec. 15. 1. The Department of Education shall transfer from the state
distributive school account the following sums for programs of remedial
education or tutoring for pupils who need additional instructional time to
pass or to reach a level considered proficient:
For the fiscal year 2001-2002.............. $1,000,000
For the fiscal year 2002-2003.............. $1,000,000
The programs for which money is provided pursuant to this section must be
conducted before or after school, on weekends, during the summer or
between sessions in schools with year-round school calendars.
2. To receive an allocation from the amounts transferred pursuant to
subsection 1, a school district must submit an application to the
Department of Education containing a written plan for providing a
program of remedial education or tutoring. The written plan must include:
(a) The estimated number of pupils that will participate in the program;
(b) The curriculum that will be taught;
(c) A schedule of the course work or tutoring to be conducted under the
program;
(d) A plan for evaluating the effectiveness of the program; and
(e) A budget for the program.
3. Upon receipt of an application submitted pursuant to subsection 2,
the Department of Education shall review the application jointly with the
Budget Division of the Department of Administration and the Legislative
Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation. The
Department of Education shall transmit the application to the State Board
of Examiners with the recommendation of the Department of Education
concerning the allocation of money based upon each application so
received. The State Board of Examiners, or the Clerk of the Board if
authorized by the Board to act on its behalf, shall consider each such
application and, if it finds that an allocation should be made, recommend
the amount of the allocation to the Interim Finance Committee. The
Interim Finance Committee shall consider each such recommendation, but
is not bound to follow the recommendation of the State Board of
Examiners when determining the allocation to be received by a school
district.
4. A school district that receives an allocation of money pursuant to this
section shall use the money to:
(a) Provide a program of remedial education or tutoring that has been
approved by the Department of Education as being effective in improving
pupil achievement.
(b) Pay the costs incurred by the school district in providing the
program of remedial education or tutoring. The money must first be
applied to those pupils who the school district determines are performing
at a level which poses the highest risk of failure.
(c) Pay for the salaries, training or other compensation of teachers and
other educational personnel to provide the program of remedial education
or tutoring, instructional materials required for the program, equipment
necessary to offer the program and all other additional operating costs
attributable to the program.
(d) Supplement and not replace the money the school district would
otherwise expend for programs of remedial education or tutoring.
5. Before a school district amends a plan for expenditure of an
allocation of money received pursuant to this section, the school district
must submit the proposed amendment to the Department of Education to
receive approval from the Department of Education, the Budget Division
of the Department of Administration and the Legislative Bureau of
Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation, or the Interim
Finance Committee.
6. The sums transferred pursuant to subsection 1 are available for either
fiscal year. Any remaining balance of those sums must not be committed
for expenditure after June 30, 2003, and reverts to the state distributive
school account as soon as all payments of money committed have been
made.
Sec. 16. 1. The Department of Education is hereby authorized to
transfer from the state distributive school account the sum of $500,000 for
the fiscal year 2001-2002 for the school to careers program created
pursuant to NRS 388.367 and 388.368.
2. The Department of Education shall use themoney authorized by
subsection 1 for allocation to school districts, charter schools, and
universities and community colleges within the University and
Community College System of Nevadain accordance with NRS 388.368.
3. Any balance of the sum authorized for expenditure by subsection 1
must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 2002,and reverts to
the state distributive school accountas soon as all payments of money
committed have been made.
Sec. 17. 1. The Department of Education shall transfer from the
state distributive school account the following sums for early childhood
education:
For the fiscal year 2001-2002.............. $3,500,000
For the fiscal year 2002-2003.............. $3,500,000
2. The money transferred by subsection 1 must be used by the
Department of Education for competitive state grants to school districts
and community-based organizations for early childhood education
programs.
3. To receive a grant of money pursuant to subsection 2, school
districts and community-based organizations must submit a
comprehensive plan to the Department of Education that includes, without
limitation:
(a) A detailed description of the proposed early childhood education
program;
(b) A description of the manner in which the money will be used, which
must supplement and not replace the money that would otherwise be
expended for early childhood education programs; and
(c) A plan for evaluation of the program to determine the effectiveness
of the program on the academic achievement of children who participate
in the program.
4. A school district or community-based organization that receives a
grant of money shall:
(a) Use the money to initiate or expand pre-kindergarten education
programs that meet the criteria set forth in the publication of the
Department of Education, entitled “August 2000 Public Support for Pre
-kindergarten Education For School Readiness in Nevada.”
(b) Use the money to supplement and not replace the money that the
school district or community-based organization would otherwise expend
for early childhood education programs, as described in this section.
(c) Submit an evaluation of the program in accordance with the plan
submitted pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 3.
5. The Department of Education shall develop statewide performance
and outcome indicators to measure the effectiveness of the early childhood
education programs for which grants of money were awarded pursuant to
this section. The indicators must include, without limitation:
(a) Measures of the developmental progress of children before and after
their completion of the program;
(b) Measures of parental involvement in the program before and after
completion of the program; and
(c) The percentage of participants who drop out of the program before
completion.
6. The Department of Education shall review the evaluations of the
early childhood education programs submitted by each school district and
community-based organization pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 4
and prepare a compilation of the evaluations for inclusion in the report
submitted pursuant to subsection 7.
7. The Department of Education shall, on an annual basis, provide a
written report to the Governor, Legislative Committee on Education and
the Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program
Evaluation regarding the effectiveness of the early childhood programs for
which grants of money were received. The report must include, without
limitation:
(a) The number of grants awarded;
(b) An identification of each school district and community-based
organization that received a grant of money and the amount of each grant
awarded;
(c) For each school district and community based-organization that
received a grant of money:
(1) The number of children who received services through a program
funded by the grant; and
(2) The average per child expenditure for the program;
(d) A compilation of the evaluations reviewed pursuant to subsection 6
that includes, without limitation:
(1) A summary of the data showing the effectiveness of the different
programs; and
(2) A description of the programs in this state that are the most
effective; and
(e) Any recommendations for legislation.
8. Any balance of the sums transferred pursuant to subsection 1
remaining at the end of the respective fiscal years must not be committed
for expenditure after June 30 of the respective fiscal years and reverts to
the state distributive school account as soon as all payments of money
committed have been made.
Sec. 18. The sums appropriated or authorized in sections 10 to 17,
inclusive, of this act:
1. Must be accounted for separately from any other money received by
the school districts of this state and used only for the purposes specified in
the applicable section of this act.
2. May not be used to settle or arbitrate disputes between a recognized
organization representing employees of a school district and the school
district, or to settle any negotiations.
3. May not be used to adjust the district-wide schedules of salaries and
benefits of the employees of a school district.
Sec. 19. 1. The Department of Education shall transfer from the
state distributive school account the following sums for special
transportation costs to school districts:
For the 2001-2002 school year.................. 44,675
For the 2002-2003 school year................. $44,675
2. Pursuant to NRS 392.015, the Department of Educationshall use the
money transferred in subsection 1 to reimburse school districts for the
additional costs of transportation for pupils to a school outside the school
district in which his residence is located.
Sec. 20. As initially established by section 27 of chapter 559, Statutes
of Nevada 1999, at page 2943, estate tax receipts must be deposited into
the fund for school improvement and an amount not to exceed
$13,891,737 in fiscal year 1999-2000 and $16,767,624 in fiscal year 2000
-2001 must be transferred from the fund for school improvement to the
state distributive school account.
Sec. 21. Each school district shall expend the revenue made available
through this act, as well as other revenue from state, local and federal
sources, in a manner that is designed to attain the goals of the Legislature
regarding educational reform in this state, especially with regard to
assisting pupils in need of remediation and pupils who are not proficient in
Sec. 22. 1. This section and section 20 of this act become effective
upon passage and approval.
2. Sections 1 to 19, inclusive, and 21 of this act become effective on
July 1, 2001.
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