SB 357 requires Nevada schools to update special education standards for students with visual impairments (including blindness) to include specific Braille instruction guidelines and integrate assistive technology into teaching. It mandates that Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams must provide Braille instruction if requested by parents, ensure access to necessary assistive technology, and prohibit school staff from interfering with students using canes. The bill amends Nevada law (NRS 388.419 and 388.437) to align with federal disability education standards, directly affecting students with visual impairments and their school districts. These changes ensure schools meet concrete federal requirements for inclusive education while prioritizing student-specific needs.
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 174 requires Nevada school districts and charter schools to create policies ensuring students with disabilities (who have individualized education programs or 504 plans) receive medically necessary treatments from private instructional personnel in schools, including parent notification and collaboration protocols. It updates special education standards for students with visual or hearing impairments by mandating Braille instruction, assistive technology, and prohibiting interference with mobility devices like canes. The bill also expands background check requirements to include private instructional personnel as "volunteers" and requires school districts to submit annual reports to the Department of Education, making policies publicly available online.
AB 494 ensures Nevada's education system maintains key federal protections if certain laws are repealed. If the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), or related civil rights laws are repealed, Nevada automatically continues applying those laws as they existed on July 1, 2025. This affects all Nevada schools receiving federal funding and students with disabilities, guaranteeing their rights to special education services and privacy protections remain intact. The bill also allows individuals to file civil lawsuits in Nevada courts instead of federal courts if IDEA is repealed, preserving legal recourse.
SB 368 ensures Nevada's special education programs continue uninterrupted if the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is repealed. It would require Nevada to adopt federal IDEA provisions as state law, allow families to file civil lawsuits in Nevada courts instead of federal courts, and mandate that federal special education funding be used for identifying students with disabilities and providing services. The bill directly affects students with disabilities, schools, and state courts by maintaining existing protections and funding mechanisms. It also updates definitions related to special education terms like "dyslexia" and "individualized education program" for clarity.
AB 468 amends Nevada law to allow hospitals or facilities providing outpatient or residential treatment to children and operating a licensed private school to request reimbursement from the child's school district or charter school for educational services. This applies when the child is a patient (for outpatient) or resident (for residential), attends the private school for more than 7 days, and for outpatient cases, the child must have a disability and have previously received special education services from that school district. Reimbursement is calculated using the school district's standard per-pupil funding rate. The bill expands existing law, which only covered residential treatment, to include outpatient care under specific conditions, directly affecting school districts, charter schools, and healthcare facilities with private schools.
SB 396 requires all public schools and charter schools serving kindergarten through grade 6 to administer universal literacy screenings twice yearly to identify reading difficulties early. It mandates class size limits for students with disabilities, prohibits excessive student-to-staff ratios in specialized instruction, and requires schools to develop plans ensuring educational stability for students who experience frequent service location changes. The bill also updates dyslexia screening protocols, requires professional development for literacy instruction, and revises due process hearing procedures for disability-related disputes. These changes directly affect K-6 students, schools, and special education teams across Nevada.
