Senate Bill No. 59–Senator Rhoads
February 6, 2003
____________
Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities
SUMMARY—Revises provisions governing alternative schedules of school districts. (BDR 34‑736)
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.
Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1-1 Section 1. NRS 387.123 is hereby amended to read as follows:
1-2 387.123 1. The count of pupils for apportionment purposes
1-3 includes all pupils who are enrolled in programs of instruction of the
1-4 school district, including, without limitation, a program of distance
1-5 education provided by the school district, or pupils who reside in the
1-6 county in which the school district is located and are enrolled in any
1-7 charter school, including, without limitation, a program of distance
1-8 education provided by a charter school, for:
1-9 (a) Pupils in the kindergarten department.
1-10 (b) Pupils in grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
1-11 (c) Pupils not included under paragraph (a) or (b) who are
1-12 receiving special education pursuant to the provisions of NRS
1-13 388.440 to 388.520, inclusive.
2-1 (d) Pupils who reside in the county and are enrolled part time in
2-2 a program of distance education if an agreement is filed with the
2-3 Superintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to NRS 388.854 or
2-4 388.858, as applicable.
2-5 (e) Children detained in detention homes, alternative programs
2-6 and juvenile forestry camps receiving instruction pursuant to the
2-7 provisions of NRS 388.550, 388.560 and 388.570.
2-8 (f) Pupils who are enrolled in classes pursuant to subsection 4 of
2-9 NRS 386.560 and pupils who are enrolled in classes pursuant to
2-10 subsection 4 of NRS 386.580.
2-11 (g) Pupils who are enrolled in classes pursuant to subsection 3
2-12 of NRS 392.070.
2-13 (h) Pupils who are enrolled in classes and taking courses
2-14 necessary to receive a high school diploma, excluding those pupils
2-15 who are included in paragraphs (d), (f) and (g).
2-16 2. The State Board shall establish uniform regulations for
2-17 counting enrollment and calculating the average daily attendance of
2-18 pupils. In establishing such regulations for the public schools, the
2-19 State Board:
2-20 (a) Shall divide the school year into 10 school months, each
2-21 containing 20 or fewer school days[.] , or its equivalent for those
2-22 public schools operating under an alternative schedule authorized
2-23 pursuant to NRS 388.090.
2-24 (b) May divide the pupils in grades 1 to 12, inclusive, into
2-25 categories composed respectively of those enrolled in elementary
2-26 schools and those enrolled in secondary schools.
2-27 (c) Shall prohibit the counting of any pupil specified in
2-28 subsection 1 more than once.
2-29 3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4 and NRS
2-30 388.700, the State Board shall establish by regulation the maximum
2-31 pupil-teacher ratio in each grade, and for each subject matter
2-32 wherever different subjects are taught in separate classes, for each
2-33 school district of this state which is consistent with:
2-34 (a) The maintenance of an acceptable standard of instruction;
2-35 (b) The conditions prevailing in the school district with respect
2-36 to the number and distribution of pupils in each grade; and
2-37 (c) Methods of instruction used, which may include educational
2-38 television, team teaching or new teaching systems or
2-39 techniques.
2-40 If the Superintendent of Public Instruction finds that any school
2-41 district is maintaining one or more classes whose pupil-teacher ratio
2-42 exceeds the applicable maximum, and unless he finds that the board
2-43 of trustees of the school district has made every reasonable effort in
2-44 good faith to comply with the applicable standard, he shall, with the
2-45 approval of the State Board, reduce the count of pupils for
3-1 apportionment purposes by the percentage which the number of
3-2 pupils attending those classes is of the total number of pupils in the
3-3 district, and the State Board may direct him to withhold the
3-4 quarterly apportionment entirely.
3-5 4. The provisions of subsection 3 do not apply to a charter
3-6 school or a program of distance education provided pursuant to NRS
3-7 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive.
3-8 Sec. 2. NRS 388.090 is hereby amended to read as follows:
3-9 388.090 1. Except as otherwise [permitted pursuant to]
3-10 provided in this section, boards of trustees of school districts shall
3-11 schedule and provide a minimum of 180 days of free school in the
3-12 districts under their charge.
3-13 2. Except for an alternative schedule described in subsection
3-14 3, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may, upon application
3-15 by the board of trustees of a school district, authorize the school
3-16 district to provide a program of instruction based on an alternative
3-17 schedule if the number of minutes of instruction to be provided is
3-18 equal to or greater than the number of minutes of instruction that
3-19 would be provided in a program of instruction consisting of 180
3-20 school days. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall notify
3-21 the board of trustees of the school district of the approval or denial
3-22 of the application not later than 30 days after the Superintendent
3-23 of Public Instruction receives the application.
3-24 3. The Superintendent of Public Instruction may, upon
3-25 application by [a] theboard of trustees [,] of a school district,
3-26 authorize a reduction of not more than 15 school days in [a] that
3-27 particular district to establish or maintain an alternative schedule
3-28 consisting of a 12-month school program [or a program involving
3-29 alternative scheduling,] if the board of trustees demonstrates that the
3-30 proposed alternative schedule for the program provides for a
3-31 [greater] number of minutes of instruction that is equal to or
3-32 greaterthan that whichwould be provided under a program
3-33 consisting of 180 school days. Before authorizing a reduction in the
3-34 number of required school days pursuant to this subsection, the
3-35 Superintendent of Public Instruction must find that the proposed
3-36 alternative schedule will be used to alleviate problems associated
3-37 with a growth in enrollment or overcrowding . [, or to establish and
3-38 maintain a program of alternative schooling, including, without
3-39 limitation, a program of distance education provided by the board of
3-40 trustees pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive.
3-41 3.] 4. The Superintendent of Public Instruction may, upon
3-42 application by a board of trustees, authorize the addition of minutes
3-43 of instruction to any scheduled day of free school if days of free
3-44 school are lost because of any interscholastic activity. Not more than
3-45 5 days of free school so lost may be rescheduled in this manner.
4-1 [4.] The provisions of this subsection do not apply to an
4-2 alternative schedule approved pursuant to subsection 2.
4-3 5. The number of minutes of instruction required for a
4-4 particular group of pupils in a program of instruction based on an
4-5 alternative schedule approved pursuant to this section must be
4-6 determined by multiplying the appropriate minimum daily period
4-7 of instruction established by the State Board by regulation for that
4-8 particular group of pupils by 180.
4-9 6. Each school district shall schedule at least 3 contingent days
4-10 of school , or its equivalent if the school district operates under an
4-11 alternative schedule authorized pursuant to this section, in
4-12 addition to the number of days required by this section, which must
4-13 be used if a natural disaster, inclement weather or an accident
4-14 necessitates the closing of a majority of the facilities within the
4-15 district.
4-16 [5.] 7. If more than 3 days of free school , or its equivalent if
4-17 the school district operates under an alternative schedule
4-18 authorized pursuant to this section, are lost because a natural
4-19 disaster, inclement weather or an accident necessitates the closing of
4-20 a majority of the facilities within a school district, the
4-21 Superintendent of Public Instruction, upon application by the school
4-22 district, may permit the additional days lost to be counted as school
4-23 days in session. The application must be submitted in the manner
4-24 prescribed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
4-25 [6.] 8. The State Board shall adopt regulations providing
4-26 procedures for changing schedules of instruction to be used if a
4-27 natural disaster, inclement weather or an accident necessitates the
4-28 closing of a particular school within a school district.
4-29 Sec. 3. NRS 391.3115 is hereby amended to read as follows:
4-30 391.3115 1. The demotion, suspension, dismissal and
4-31 nonreemployment provisions of NRS 391.311 to 391.3197,
4-32 inclusive, do not apply to:
4-33 (a) Substitute teachers; or
4-34 (b) Adult education teachers.
4-35 2. A licensed employee who is employed in a position fully
4-36 funded by a federal or private categorical grant or to replace another
4-37 licensed employee during that employee’s leave of absence is
4-38 employed only for the duration of the grant or leave. Such a licensed
4-39 employee and licensed employees who are employed on temporary
4-40 contracts for 90 school days or less , or its equivalent in a school
4-41 district operating under an alternative schedule authorized
4-42 pursuant to NRS 388.090, to replace licensed employees whose
4-43 employment has terminated after the beginning of the school year
4-44 are entitled to credit for that time in fulfilling any period of
4-45 probation and during that time the provisions of NRS 391.311 to
5-1 391.3197, inclusive, for demotion, suspension or dismissal apply to
5-2 them.
5-3 Sec. 4. NRS 392.019 is hereby amended to read as follows:
5-4 392.019 1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if
5-5 a child is exempt from compulsory attendance pursuant to NRS
5-6 392.070, 392.100 or 392.110, and the child is employed to work in
5-7 the entertainment industry pursuant to a written contract for a period
5-8 of more than 91 school days, or its equivalent if the child resides in
5-9 a school district operating under an alternative schedule
5-10 authorized pursuant to NRS 388.090, including, without limitation,
5-11 employment with a motion picture company or employment with a
5-12 production company hired by a casino or resort hotel, the entity that
5-13 employs the child shall, upon the request of the parent or legal
5-14 guardian of the child, pay the costs for the child to receive at least 3
5-15 hours of tutoring per day for at least 5 days per week. In lieu of
5-16 tutoring, the parent or legal guardian of such a child may agree with
5-17 the entity that employs the child that the entity will pay the costs for
5-18 the child to receive other educational or instructional services which
5-19 are equivalent to tutoring. The provisions of this subsection apply
5-20 during the period of a child’s employment with an entity, regardless
5-21 of whether the child has obtained the appropriate exemption from
5-22 compulsory attendance at the time his contract with the entity is
5-23 under negotiation.
5-24 2. If such a child is exempt from compulsory attendance
5-25 pursuant to NRS 392.100 or 392.110, the tutoring or other
5-26 educational or instructional services received by the child pursuant
5-27 to subsection 1 must be approved by the board of trustees of the
5-28 school district in which the child resides.
5-29 Sec. 5. NRS 392.435 is hereby amended to read as follows:
5-30 392.435 1. Unless excused because of religious belief or
5-31 medical condition, a child may not be enrolled in a public school
5-32 within this state unless his parents or guardian submit to the board
5-33 of trustees of the school district in which the child resides or the
5-34 governing body of the charter school in which the child has been
5-35 accepted for enrollment a certificate stating that the child has been
5-36 immunized and has received proper boosters for that immunization
5-37 or is complying with the schedules established by regulation
5-38 pursuant to NRS 439.550 for the following diseases:
5-39 (a) Diphtheria;
5-40 (b) Tetanus;
5-41 (c) Pertussis if the child is under 6 years of age;
5-42 (d) Poliomyelitis;
5-43 (e) Rubella;
5-44 (f) Rubeola; and
6-1 (g) Such other diseases as the local board of health or the State
6-2 Board of Health may determine.
6-3 2. The certificate must show that the required vaccines and
6-4 boosters were given and must bear the signature of a licensed
6-5 physician or his designee or a registered nurse or his designee,
6-6 attesting that the certificate accurately reflects the child’s record of
6-7 immunization.
6-8 3. If the requirements of subsection 1 can be met with one visit
6-9 to a physician or clinic, procedures for conditional enrollment do not
6-10 apply.
6-11 4. A child may enter school conditionally if the parent or
6-12 guardian submits a certificate from a physician or local health
6-13 officer that the child is receiving the required immunizations. If a
6-14 certificate from the physician or local health officer showing that the
6-15 child has been fully immunized is not submitted to the appropriate
6-16 school officers within 90 school days , or its equivalent in a school
6-17 district operating under an alternative schedule authorized
6-18 pursuant to NRS 388.090, after the child was conditionally
6-19 admitted, the child must be excluded from school and may not be
6-20 readmitted until the requirements for immunization have been met.
6-21 A child who is excluded from school pursuant to this section is a
6-22 neglected child for the purposes of NRS 432.100 to 432.130,
6-23 inclusive, and chapter 432B of NRS.
6-24 5. Before December 31 of each year, each school district and
6-25 the governing body of each charter school shall report to the Health
6-26 Division of the Department of Human Resources, on a form
6-27 furnished by the Division, the exact number of pupils who have
6-28 completed the immunizations required by this section.
6-29 6. The certificate of immunization must be included in the
6-30 pupil’s academic or cumulative record and transferred as part of that
6-31 record upon request.
6-32 Sec. 6. NRS 62.224 is hereby amended to read as follows:
6-33 62.224 1. In addition to any other action authorized pursuant
6-34 to the provisions of this chapter, if a child is found to be in need of
6-35 supervision because he is a habitual truant, the court shall:
6-36 (a) The first time the child is found to be in need of supervision
6-37 because he is a habitual truant:
6-38 (1) Order the child to:
6-39 (I) Pay a fine of not more than $100 pursuant to
6-40 paragraph (l) of subsection 1 of NRS 62.211 and the administrative
6-41 assessment required by NRS 62.2175; or
6-42 (II) Perform not less than 8 hours but not more than 16
6-43 hours of community service in compliance with the provisions of
6-44 subsection 3; and
7-1 (2) If the child is 14 years of age or older, order the
7-2 suspension of the child’s driver’s license for at least 30 days but not
7-3 more than 6 months. If the child does not possess a driver’s license,
7-4 the court shall prohibit the child from applying for a driver’s license
7-5 for 30 days:
7-6 (I) Immediately following the date of the order if the child
7-7 is eligible to apply for a driver’s license; or
7-8 (II) After the date he becomes eligible to apply for a
7-9 driver’s license if the child is not eligible to apply for a driver’s
7-10 license.
7-11 (b) The second or any subsequent time the child is found to be
7-12 in need of supervision because he is a habitual truant:
7-13 (1) Order the child to:
7-14 (I) Pay a fine of not more than $200 pursuant to
7-15 paragraph (l) of subsection 1 of NRS 62.211 and the administrative
7-16 assessment required by NRS 62.2175;
7-17 (II) Perform not more than 10 hours of community
7-18 service in compliance with the provisions of subsection 3; or
7-19 (III) Comply with the requirements set forth in both
7-20 sub‑subparagraphs (I) and (II); and
7-21 (2) If the child is 14 years of age or older, order the
7-22 suspension of the child’s driver’s license for at least 60 days but not
7-23 more than 1 year. If the child does not possess a driver’s license, the
7-24 court shall prohibit the child from applying for a driver’s license for
7-25 60 days:
7-26 (I) Immediately following the date of the order if the child
7-27 is eligible to apply for a driver’s license; or
7-28 (II) After the date he becomes eligible to apply for a
7-29 driver’s license if the child is not eligible to apply for a driver’s
7-30 license.
7-31 2. The court may suspend the payment of a fine ordered
7-32 pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 1 if the child attends school
7-33 for 60 consecutive school days , or its equivalent in a school
7-34 district operating under an alternative schedule authorized
7-35 pursuant to NRS 388.090, after the imposition of the fine, or has a
7-36 valid excuse acceptable to his teacher or the principal for any
7-37 absence from school within that period.
7-38 3. The community service ordered pursuant to paragraph (a) or
7-39 (b) of subsection 1 must be performed:
7-40 (a) For and under the supervising authority of a county, city,
7-41 town or other political subdivision or agency of this state or a
7-42 charitable organization that renders service to the community or its
7-43 residents; and
7-44 (b) At the child’s school of attendance, if practicable.
8-1 4. If the court issues an order suspending a child’s driver’s
8-2 license pursuant to subsection 1, the court shall require the child to
8-3 surrender to the court all driver’s licenses then held by the child.
8-4 Sec. 7. 1. If the board of trustees of a school district
8-5 provides a program of instruction based upon an alternative
8-6 schedule pursuant to subsection 2 of section 2 of this act, the board
8-7 of trustees shall, on or before December 31, 2004, submit a written
8-8 report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The report must
8-9 include:
8-10 (a) A description of the alternative schedule; and
8-11 (b) An evaluation of the effect of the alternative schedule on the
8-12 pupils, parents and legal guardians and community.
8-13 2. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall:
8-14 (a) Compile the reports, if any, submitted pursuant to subsection
8-15 1; and
8-16 (b) On or before February 1, 2005, submit a written report of the
8-17 compilation to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for
8-18 transmission to the 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature.
8-19 Sec. 8. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.
8-20 H