Assembly Bill No. 559

Assembly Bill No. 559-Assemblymen Chowning, Herrera, Evans, Collins, Koivisto, Parks, Buckley, Bache, Price, Cegavske, Anderson, Gustavson, Amodei, de Braga and Neighbors

May 30, 1997
____________

Referred to Concurrent Committees on Education
and Ways and Means

SUMMARY--Establishes task force for development of standards for equitable educational opportunity for pupils. (BDR S-1104)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget.

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

AN ACT relating to education; requiring the State Board of Education to establish a task force to develop standards for achieving equitable educational opportunity for pupils; authorizing the public schools, school districts and sponsors of certain programs to apply for grants to carry out the standards; 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 1. On or before August 1, 1997, the State Board of Education shall establish a task force to develop standards for achieving equitable educational opportunity for pupils who are enrolled in the public schools in this state. The task force must consist of at least 12 members but not more than 18 members appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The members of the task force must possess knowledge and experience in achieving equitable educational opportunity for pupils. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall, insofar as is practicable, appoint the members to the task force so that the membership of the task force includes representatives:
(a) Of various counties in this state, including, without limitation, the northern and southern portions of this state and the urban and rural areas of this state;
(b) With knowledge and experience in methods to achieve equitable educational opportunity for pupils:
(1) Who are of diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds;
(2) Whose primary language is not English;
(3) Who are at risk of being subject to gender bias;
(4) Who have disabilities;
(5) Who are gifted and talented;
(6) Who are at high risk of dropping out of school; or
(7) Who are disadvantaged, economically or otherwise;
(c) From the educational profession, including, without limitation, teachers in the public schools, administrators, representatives of school districts and preschool teachers;
(d) Of the Department of Education who have knowledge and experience in the development of standards and methods to achieve equitable educational opportunity for pupils; and
(e) Of the general public, including, without limitation, parents of pupils who are enrolled in the public schools.
2. The members of the task force shall elect one of the members who represents the Department of Education to serve as chairman of the task force.
3. The members of the task force serve without compensation. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for each day or portion of a day during which a member of the task force attends a meeting of the task force, he is entitled to receive the per diem allowance and travel expenses provided for state officers and employees generally. Such an allowance and expenses may be paid per member for not more than five meetings of the task force.
4. The State Board of Education shall provide administrative support to the task force.
Sec. 2 1. On or before September 1, 1997, the task force shall hold its first meeting.
2. On or before March 1, 1998, the task force shall:
(a) Develop standards for achieving equitable educational opportunity for all pupils who are enrolled in the public schools in this state;
(b) Develop methods by which to measure the effectiveness of the standards in achieving equitable educational opportunity for all pupils who are enrolled in the public schools in this state;
(c) Make recommendations for public schools to carry out the standards, including, without limitation, the means by which a public school may attain the:
(1) Financial or other resources which are necessary to carry out the standards; and
(2) Technical assistance which is necessary to carry out the standards; and
(d) Submit the standards, methods and recommendations to the State Board of Education for review and approval.
3. On or before March 15, 1998, the State Board of Education shall:
(a) If necessary, make revisions to the standards, methods and recommendations; and
(b) Approve the standards, methods and recommendations, as submitted or revised.
4. Upon approval of the standards, methods and recommendations by the State Board of Education, the task force shall provide reasonable notice to the public schools in this state, the school districts of this state and any sponsors of educational programs for teachers or other educational personnel of the availability of grants of money for programs to carry out the standards.
5. On or before December 31, 1998, the task force shall transmit a report of the standards, methods and recommendations approved by the State Board of Education to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature.
Sec. 3 1. An individual public school, a school district or a sponsor of an educational program for teachers or other educational personnel may apply to the task force for a grant of money to carry out a program that is designed to achieve the standards developed by the task force pursuant to subsection 2 of section 2 of this act. At least eight members of the task force shall review the applications so submitted to determine whether the program proposed by the applicant will achieve the standards developed by the task force. A grant of money made pursuant to this subsection must not exceed $15,000.
2. On or before March 1, 1999, each recipient of such a grant shall submit a report to the State Board of Education that evaluates the effectiveness of the program in achieving the standards developed by the task force. The evaluation must use the methods to measure the effectiveness of the standards developed by the task force pursuant to subsection 2 of section 2 of this act. The State Board of Education shall immediately transmit the reports to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature.
Sec. 4 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to the State Board of Education the sum of $126,500. The money must be used by the State Board of Education as follows:
(a) Not more than $6,500 may be used for the payment of:
(1) Per diem allowances and travel expenses pursuant to subsection 3 of section 1 of this act;
(2) Any reasonable costs incurred by the State Board of Education in providing administrative support to the task force pursuant to subsection 4 of section 1 of this act; and
(3) Any reasonable costs incurred by the task force in providing notice pursuant to subsection 4 of section 2 of this act.
(b) The remaining amount of the appropriation must be used for the distribution of grants in accordance with section 3 of this act.
2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 1999, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have been made.
Sec. 5 This act becomes effective upon passage and approval or on June 30, 1997, whichever occurs earlier, and expires by limitation on June 30, 1999.