Education

AB 328 creates the Juneteenth Educational and Economic Commission within Nevada’s Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs to develop public education about Juneteenth Day. The Commission, composed of eight members representing universities, Juneteenth organizations, African-American businesses, cultural groups, and museums, must produce educational materials, collaborate on events, and support Juneteenth celebrations statewide. It also establishes a Subcommittee under the Education Committee to study historical discrimination against African-Americans in Nevada and its economic impacts, with findings to inform public education and potential restitution recommendations. The bill was passed by the legislature in June 2025 but was vetoed by the Governor on June 11, 2025.

SB 81 requires the Department of Education to conduct annual surveys of public school employees about school climate and working conditions, and to survey those leaving employment. It updates terminology for at-risk student services ("Victory services" becomes "services for at-risk pupils") and English learner support ("Zoom services" becomes "services for pupils who are English learners"). The bill also revises funding timelines, mandating quarterly transfers of cannabis tax revenues and Permanent School Fund interest into the State Education Fund, and adjusts school district report deadlines to occur in early January. These changes directly affect school districts, public school employees, and the Department of Education in administering education funding and reporting.

SB 305 requires Nevada’s Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) to officially sanction lacrosse as a school sport by January 2026, establishing specific rules for eligibility, competition, season timing, and safety. It mandates the NIAA to create the "Pipeline Infrastructure Fund" to support school sports infrastructure, including hiring staff and managing programs, and allows the fund to accept donations. The bill also directs the NIAA to conduct a study on developing student athletes into professionals, with findings reported to lawmakers by 2027. These changes directly affect Nevada public school students participating in interscholastic sports and the NIAA’s operational responsibilities.

SB 400 ensures continuity of special education services for students with disabilities who transfer schools. It requires schools to provide comparable services to the previous Individualized Education Program (IEP) during transition, until a new IEP is adopted (for in-state transfers) or an evaluation and new IEP are completed (for out-of-state transfers). The bill also mandates that teachers must pass subject-specific competency tests and obtain Department of Education endorsements to teach music or art in most schools, with exceptions for small districts (under 200,000 students) and very small schools (under 500 students), plus temporary exemptions during teacher shortages. These changes align Nevada’s policies with federal special education requirements and update teacher certification standards.

SB 277 requires every public school (including charter schools) to employ a full-time school social worker when funding is available, and prohibits schools from contracting with outside providers for these services when feasible. The bill also updates licensing rules to allow current school social workers or counselors to complete required internship hours while employed, rather than needing to leave their positions. This directly affects public schools, their staffing decisions, and the licensing process for school support staff. The policy changes aim to increase in-school mental health support by mandating dedicated staff and streamlining credentialing.