Resolution No. 1-2015
In Support of Governor Sandoval’s Education Policy
Whereas, education and economic development are inextricably linked; and
Whereas, the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) has engaged heavily in discussions around
education reform, created the LVGEA Education Council, assisted the Clark County School District
(CCSD) with its budgeting practices, and helped the region train and recruit an adequate number of
licensed teachers CCSD; and
Whereas, it has become clear to the LVGEA Board of Directors that additional funds are needed to
support K-12 education, and that those funds should be targeted at programs and populations that will
help improve Southern Nevada’s education system as a whole; and
Whereas, the LVGEA, working through the LVGEA Education Council and other partners, has
determined that additional investments in the following programs and reforms will promote
accountability and yield the highest return on investment:
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Reform of the Nevada Plan for School Finance to provide additional resources for English
Language Learners, students in high poverty, students with special needs, and “Read by Three”
programs
-
Institution of Full Day Kindergarten for all students
-
The creation of grants to support the recruitment, retention, and professional development of
high quality teachers
-
Measures to ensure that there are adequate facilities with which to educate Southern Nevada
students
-
Adoption of teacher and principal evaluation systems based on the Peer Assisted Review model
-
Full implementation of performance-based incentives for teachers and a competitive salary
schedule that will attract and retain quality educators in our most needy schools
-
Implementation of state-of-the-art human resource and budgeting systems; and
Whereas, Governor Sandoval’s education policies, outlined in his executive budget, largely align with
the policies that LVGEA has determined will promote accountability and yield the highest return on
investment, including:
-
Reform of the Nevada Plan for School Finance to institute targeted grants aimed at:
o Special education, through the alteration of the per-pupil multiplier for special
education students (a boost of $25M for special education in the first year)
o English Language Learners ($100M for “Zoom School” programs over the biennium)
o Students in high poverty ($50M for “Victory Schools” programs over the biennium)
o “Read by Three” programs ($27M over the biennium)
o Gifted and Talented Education (10.2M over the biennium)
o Matching funds to support a $43M federal preschool grant ($10.3M over the biennium)
o Technology in the classroom for middle and high school ($46.4M over the biennium)
o Grants to support college and career readiness, career and technical education, and
dropout prevention ($22.1M over the biennium)
-
Institution of Full Day Kindergarten for all students ($74.3M over the biennium)
-
The creation of grants to support the recruitment, retention, and professional development of
high quality teachers ($9.8M over the biennium)
-
Measures to ensure that there are adequate facilities with which to educate Southern Nevada
students
o Rollover of bonding authority for school districts
o Creation of matching grant funds to lure high quality charter schools to Nevada ($20M
over the biennium); and
Whereas, LVGEA has engaged with the Governor, his Superintendent of Public Instruction, members of
the education council, and outside groups to find solutions on:
-
The adoption of teacher and principal evaluation systems based on the Peer Assisted Review
model
-
The implementation of performance-based incentives for teachers and a competitive salary
schedule that will attract and retain quality educators in our most needy schools
-
The implementation of state-of-the-art human resource and budgeting systems.
Now therefore, be it resolved by the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance:
1. That the Board of Directors supports the Governor’s education policy priorities and will support
a revenue plan to pay for these policy priorities.
PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this ____ day of _________________
________________________________________
Missy Young
Chairman
Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance
____________________
Date