[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6636785,"mediaKeyId","2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4","parentId",2605069,"title","Department warns school‑based mental health grants are expiring; SafeVoice tips rising and contract costs debated","audioSeconds",1222,"startMs",6621000,"endMs",7843000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4&start=6621&end=7843","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4/thumbnail_6621000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6636785/Nevada/Department-warns-schoolbased-mental-health-grants-are-expiring-SafeVoice-tips-rising-and-contract-costs-debated","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636785-1df947fc172757f5c97d0e4603cb359b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771002717&Signature=dpAXeafYu4vxkDD24fTt0SwJ7c3ljkBZfuieCGV4F89EvOCeIonJY0qZps69Y1yMHHRZANGqYTzwrKefQApvCel~jTH0Wzo6sCKNVRK~J4FMJ6GxREnCu7OIhQqITEAfo31tGKHyjEQY5bIs~52fq18tZkcfFWSNWdWpp0cjSrP5u4hr5Pz2GE~zp9qu6FJQZbQBiI27qF2JY4RH73CpQ4z5QvWie9RoU7fQzPKGEsDkfe4lJds8YXmBH7vzeb9N5afwEzNuRj7yaDT~10pE8puqwtwQPKEUP84-mA81EFeqDmjrqOCgf8GcvhYHmCojhHiNFyAfxTYctn~Gjfb2Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada State Legislature","date","2025-03-13T17:43:06.66Z","article","Deputy Superintendent Megan Peterson and Deputy Superintendent Christy McGill briefed the joint subcommittee on the Office of Safe and Respectful Learning, describing grant expirations that will remove staff and warning of program impacts while also proposing continued funding for the SafeVoice reporting platform and multi‑tiered systems of support (MTSS) implementation.

\"These positions are removed from the budget due to expiration of, or ending of two grants,\" Megan Peterson said when describing the recommended removals of two education‑program‑professional positions funded by the School‑Based Mental Health grant and the Now Is the Time/Project AWARE grant. Deputy Superintendent Christy McGill told lawmakers the elimination would curtail an established Project AWARE program: \"The Project AWARE program as we know it right now, will cease to exist.\"

Why it matters: school districts have relied on discretionary federal grants for mental‑health staffing and training; the department’s presentation said some grant dollars have ended and attempts to identify alternative, ongoing funding have so far been unsuccessful. At the same time, the department reported rising SafeVoice tips — the anonymous statewide reporting platform used to alert schools and law enforcement to safety concerns.

Key points from the hearing

- Grant expirations and staffing: The department recommended removing two positions tied to the School‑Based Mental Health grant and the Now Is The Time / Project AWARE grant as federal funds end. Department leaders said they had sought other funding but had not identified stable alternatives. McGill said the broader Project AWARE program would end if the position cannot be continued.

- SafeVoice volume and categories: Christy McGill summarized tip trends, saying the program has seen steady year‑over‑year increases. She listed top tip categories in 2024 and provided counts during the hearing: threat to student (1,226), Handle With Care tips (995), suicide threats (841), and bullying (769). McGill said school‑to‑employee complaints are also a top category.

- Contracted services and platform funding: The department proposed incorporating SafeVoice licensing into the base budget (it had been grant‑funded). Officials also proposed a $3,000,000 per‑year contract to support MTSS implementation statewide and a custom Infinite Campus report to show disproportionate discipline data.

- Evaluation and training: McGill said one DOJ grant pilot funded threat‑assessment training and a case‑management pilot; training worked well but the case‑management pilot did not. She said the department is shifting contract emphasis toward threat‑assessment training and MTSS supports.

Questions from lawmakers and department responses

Lawmakers asked for substantiation rates and for metrics showing how many tips were actionable. McGill said the department conducted a point‑in‑time evaluation of SafeVoice and offered to provide that evaluation to the committee. On funds, McGill said SafeVoice licensing costs vary by contract term and said the department is accounting for per‑tip plugin fees and a 15‑month contract period that affects FY25 invoice timing.

Operational impacts

McGill and Peterson said districts have used federal grants to provide direct mental‑health services and warned that service levels will decrease if grants lapse. McGill said the state has supported district services through discretionary grants historically and that, absent new funding, district mental‑health capacity is likely to shrink.

Ending note

Committee members requested the SafeVoice evaluation and more detail on contract costs and grant transition plans. Department leaders said they will supply the evaluation and financial breakdowns to the subcommittee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/13/2025 - Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Subcommittee on K-12/Higher Education/CIP","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy Superintendent Megan Peterson and Deputy Christy McGill told the legislative subcommittee that two federal grants funding school mental‑health positions are coming to an end, and that SafeVoice tips have grown year over year; the department is proposing to fold SafeVoice licensing into the base budget and fund an MTSS contract while it seeks alternative funding for staff.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NV, Nevada","taxId",78440,"location","Nevada","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6636790,"Nevada Department of Education seeks to expand pre-K seats while funding questions remain over federal grants and staffing",2834,3880000,6714000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4&start=3880&end=6714","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4/thumbnail_3880000.jpg","/articles/6636790/Nevada/Nevada-Department-of-Education-seeks-to-expand-pre-K-seats-while-funding-questions-remain-over-federal-grants-and-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636790-32219ccb3989aabd50458b5ea3d34d1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771002717&Signature=jmsSBNMz5ehNJwZGPUFu0m-4e~o7GvqNWzuVt8GaD7S7CnrnQXXx~BIGdbpobM5nOcPjd0nnducaRA49jnk3ZFl6hqpqK9Pe1sL~oRNm0L2i3kNGsckzZC1v6f~oXQ3ikrxzOODAjbZL7oVSOQJvdVyEtuplVGWhheciRtuBNfUQCRdBme27j5C-YyHm6xJQDi4CEgN1G6ec0lAe2Gqe2X4UsweseMcSBXbt6uEKegrOVbtXqy9tiUAtvNyMV49jevXWGx4QpoJpSqxR-q3fwpXINd-hzr1~MDCcnn6oNdo3egKYBUuYyRaz8fGNPRy7wOrXbwmiIJTCby2YcrDDYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Superintendent Megan Peterson and Patty Oya, director of the Office of Early Learning and Development, told the joint legislative subcommittee on K‑12, Higher Education and CIP that the Nevada Department of Education proposes expanding Nevada Ready PreK seats to about 6,122 in fiscal year 2026 and 8,222 in fiscal year 2027 and recommends continuing $70 million a year for early childhood literacy and readiness.

The department presented the biennial proposal and described staffing and implementation needs while answering questions about expiring federal grants and eligibility rules. \"The department does have a bill that's been proposed, SB 58, that would align the pre K amounts with those that are allocated through the pupil centered funding plan as part of a long term goal towards moving to universal pre k,\" Deputy Superintendent Megan Peterson said. \"In general, we've been referring to the $94.16 statewide base as a proxy. But it would be the intent to align them with the adjusted base in each district.\"

Why it matters: the expansion would increase the number of state-funded seats in Nevada’s early-learning system, but the presentation and follow-up questions made clear that the department’s ability to deliver seats depends on multiple variables: the mix of state and federal funding, expiring federal awards, eligibility rules (including proposals in SB 58), district-level capacity and how funds are routed to districts and nonprofit providers.

Key details from the hearing

- Funding and seat counts: The department told lawmakers the executive budget recommendation would support 6,122 pre‑K seats in FY 2026 and 8,222 in FY 2027 and includes a proposed $70,000,000 appropriation for early childhood innovation and literacy in each fiscal year of the biennium.

- Funding sources and alignment: Peterson said the department intends to align pre‑K per‑seat amounts with the district-adjusted base in the pupil‑centered funding plan (PCFP) if SB 58 becomes law; currently the department has used a statewide base ($94.16) as a proxy. Peterson said the department split pre‑K funding across two budget accounts to separate federally funded programs (Office of Early Learning and Development) from state-funded programs, but called that primarily an internal accounting decision.

- Federal grants and timing: staff described a $30 million Preschool Development Grant (PDG) award and other federal funding that helped build capacity. Director Patty Oya said the department spent PDG funds primarily to build systems and supports, and that some PDG activities (for example, family child‑care pilots) were delayed because they require different arrangements than center‑based seats. Oya said the PDG expires Dec. 30, 2025, and officials expected that a proposed no-cost extension was unlikely.

- Wait lists and capacity: the department reported large unmet demand. Oya said Clark County School District alone had about 6,000 children on a wait list; she cautioned statewide wait‑list data are incomplete because some districts do not pre‑screen families until seats are available. The department also said 65 child‑care centers were waiting to be onboarded into the statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS).

- Eligibility and SB 58: program eligibility currently varies by grant. For Nevada Ready PreK the department said eligibility has been at 200% of the federal poverty level for 4‑year‑olds; other programs have used up to 250% FPL or included 3‑year‑olds in specific circumstances. Patty Oya said alignment would depend on the final form of SB 58.

- Staffing and operations: the department requested personnel additions in the pre‑K account, including an education and information officer and eight positions to support pre‑K implementation. Peterson acknowledged some positions were originally planned to be funded with federal dollars (CCDF or PDG) and said funding sources are still being evaluated; she said discussions about using CCDF (Child Care and Development Fund) funds were ongoing but CCDF awards had declined.

- Federal CCDF reductions: Oya said CCDF set‑aside awards the department receives through the state welfare division had fallen from about $11.3 million in FY 2024 to $9.7 million in FY 2025 and an estimated $8.0 million in FY 2026; she said the department had been informed reductions were needed to avoid impacting child‑care subsidy programs.

What lawmakers asked and what remained unresolved

Lawmakers pressed for clearer breakdowns of federal vs. state funding and for data on wait lists and capacity. Senator Cannizzaro requested a per‑seat dollar amount and a district breakdown; Peterson said the department would provide the district‑level adjusted base amounts. Several legislators asked how the department would maintain positions if federal grants expire; Peterson said original requests were for general fund but the department continued to explore options and might bring budget amendments once funding sources were finalized.

Director Oya said the department had prioritized building systems and professional development early in the grant period rather than spending immediately on pilot seats. \"We did spend, and we are on track to spend the $30,000,000\" of the PDG award, she said, but added the money was not always used for the minimal pilot seat counts originally described because the grant's primary purpose was system building.

Context and next steps

Superintendent Joan Ebert and department staff said the proposed continuation of the $70 million literacy funding is intended to sustain the early‑childhood programs established by Assembly Bill 400 from the last session. Officials told the committee the department would provide additional district breakdowns, and acknowledged that program rules, SB 58 outcomes and federal award timing will affect final implementation. Several legislators asked for a clearer accounting of federal awards and district wait‑list counts.

Ending note

The department told the subcommittee it plans to provide more detailed fund maps, per‑seat calculations and breakdowns of federal awards to the committee in the coming days. Lawmakers signaled they will look for that information before taking final budget actions.

","Deputy Superintendent Megan Peterson and Patty Oya, director of the Office of Early Learning and Development, told the joint legislative subcommittee the department proposes expanding Nevada Ready PreK to about 6,122 seats in FY 2026 and 8,222 in FY 2027 while continuing $70 million a year for early‑childhood literacy, but several federal grants are expiring and some staffing and funding sources remain uncertain.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6636771,"Superintendent defends $250,000‑per‑year studies to implement Commission on Innovation recommendations",666,3203000,3869000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4&start=3203&end=3869","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4/thumbnail_3203000.jpg","/articles/6636771/Nevada/Superintendent-defends-250000peryear-studies-to-implement-Commission-on-Innovation-recommendations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636771-87fe0bf6a4133cf7e76ade7c06ee0626/orig.mp4?Expires=1771002717&Signature=oLYsZBp1YqwDy1vlOvntREE2PRlF21wWBH1c14bmq0AIpgns~N3JJgo2Ubcwvzp9teDULFx-WXC2jI0k1lwHPAdE682Me8QLXKeir0vPt97gvu441PyPuD8AN1LzBi-xES6I7isLR9PlgctgUumvoQ2~vm~WobgzJRwFaqNis44FPIKePzjfckgei-Z9OhwNWthoIQdOjEf7GwkIN1~V~i4mSQ-VWm1T6MUodEJcbkxs66nn7BiGW~4GmOA2MOh0CHToWF7DBmRCszdlhJ892fE61FbJxNAmq7WOVjjoKkqu51epdfxNBmlNaTBGjiiJ153ek6YIBbT5tvXgbWxzbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Superintendent Joan Ebert told the subcommittee the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education (created by the last legislature) needs additional resources to move from analysis to implementation, and the department recommended a one‑time appropriation of $250,000 each year to contract with the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) for implementation studies.

\"The commission itself was created under Senate Bill 425 in the last legislative session, to move us forward with a world class globally competitive and adaptable education system,\" Superintendent Joan Ebert said. She described four priority areas in the commission’s report: personalized competency‑based learning; recruitment, preparation and teacher leadership; next‑generation career pathways; and a performance dashboard for future‑ready metrics.

Why it matters: department leaders argued that the initial commission work identified policy directions and that contracted studies and technical support are needed to design implementation steps. Ebert said the state has seen staffing gains tied to recent investments: \"We have over 1,200 more educators in our classrooms today than we did last year ... we have a 30% increase in retention rate,\" she told the committee, citing results tied to prior legislative investments.

Questions and context

Lawmakers asked how the $250,000 amounts were determined and how the studies would build on the commission’s earlier work. Ebert said the commission’s first phase was analytic and that the next step is to address implementation — how to transform a system designed around seat time into one focused on mastery and competencies. She said the proposed studies would support that transformation and noted the state adopted competency‑based policy in 2015 but has not previously funded the supports needed to shift practice.

Ending note

Lawmakers did not vote on the proposal during the hearing. The department said the work would inform ongoing policy development and coordinate with the Commission on School Funding.","State Superintendent Joan Ebert and Deputy Megan Peterson told the committee that the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education's policy recommendations require follow‑up studies and implementation supports worth $250,000 per year to guide shifts toward competency‑based learning, teacher preparation and a performance dashboard.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6636775,"Department says ESSER liquidation extensions are wrapping up; some funds reverted to federal government",412,7768000,8180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4&start=7768&end=8180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4/thumbnail_7768000.jpg","/articles/6636775/Nevada/Department-says-ESSER-liquidation-extensions-are-wrapping-up-some-funds-reverted-to-federal-government","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636775-b8341892276a2d4be1a9f6f180466082/orig.mp4?Expires=1771002717&Signature=nsLpPJR8ONLK6VFWBLnJIwBdsaZQgtGavYRzyIZUZrOW-lOcdB~FJ-Wf1WkHxnxvjVQXsTywUPhBVp-NkI4gcLCV-Y6jaYWymwTHaGJZOJezpKe5~~ZQGB2heuYH7hiqlY-lE4pf7dGa9-QQ2ToITS765uUIBiyuHQXNvJ588x62xgOQUFkXx7tXZJ44cHjhZWayN8g5TRik2K08vwo-SZe22Ml7SLjyQwx8L3pmZoGtGjzLWdzcZTNprgAPtWrgrCJoJB7KojHXyys3kzwBGtbv8kI~H-nKPQy2w8hC51~5-ST8rWxgG6-Bdi~EZz5ZefCDquJnKEU2zCuro1UYqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Superintendent Megan Peterson told the joint subcommittee that budget account 2710 — the COVID‑19 fund account that housed ESSER 1, 2 and 3 funds — is winding down after multiple obligations and some late liquidation approvals.

Peterson said ESSER 1 and ESSER 2 projects have largely ended, ESSER 3 projects have been extended for liquidation, and the department had permission to finish eligible projects into calendar year 2026 with final payments by March 2026. \"We did receive late liquidation approval for both our ESSER 2, Gear 2, and ESSER 3 funds,\" Peterson said. She also said timing and reversions led to some funds being returned: \"Those funds were reverted to the federal government,\" she said, describing approximately $1.8 million in ESSER 2 authority that could not be extended and therefore reverted.

How funds were used at the local level

Peterson summarized ESSER III priorities at the local education agency level: after the initial emergency phases (PPE and immediate needs) ESSER III supported activities to address learning loss, stabilize operations and fund required minimums such as summer and after‑school programming. Lawmakers asked for a statewide accounting; Superintendent Joan Ebert reminded the committee that the department maintains a transparency website showing reimbursements and district expenditures.

What lawmakers asked

Senators asked how much of ESSER III was approved to be liquidated beyond Sept. 30, 2024; Peterson said the department could provide final numbers but indicated roughly $34 million was approved for liquidation beyond that deadline. Lawmakers also asked how much might revert at the end of the liquidation period; Peterson said those figures were still being reconciled with districts.

Ending note

The department said it would provide the committee updated liquidation totals and district‑level reimbursement records; lawmakers said they expect final reconciliations before concluding ESSER‑related budget matters.","Megan Peterson told the subcommittee that ESSER grants are ending, that the department received liquidation approval for portions of ESSER 2 and ESSER 3 through early 2026, and that approx. $1.8 million in ESSER 2 authority could not be extended and reverted to the federal government.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6636780,"Office of Teaching and Learning requests supervisory position and permanent funding for formerly grant‑paid tools",604,1620000,2224000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4&start=1620&end=2224","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2605069-0ca7dd6e2e41becc781a67ece3cb0ec4/thumbnail_1620000.jpg","/articles/6636780/Nevada/Office-of-Teaching-and-Learning-requests-supervisory-position-and-permanent-funding-for-formerly-grantpaid-tools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636780-830275d9350d2789f6fdf16d271db580/orig.mp4?Expires=1771002717&Signature=Olw6se8yp0NfgeP9B1PSdQzUwe5Nc2APk2laPDdN8IteU8WRRn~COSCad79xHaMfi-7xH5XGDEB7bY0lwQEquf~5ijblePixBrOdxE~r-Euf~AHtxgsKHPwMo8~ByHjd6Gcok2f5gkyrL~i0c2WU5tvhF65gK7nh16ncR3HqBSEi~9fq8ZFUyz62Ymswprg5Q9tNGachQy1sVJ5vfrKQucN8T5YYJzExkaQfLyLLlIQTryocgMRsQyx0875eDfK7-GkyWNkhq9soBFroBn1WVYu-v1fqp3zLHyOXjXBu~IgzvT8580-842GO4FKBT4SdGFsYMxb0Hc1MExUk6Fiw8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Superintendent Megan Peterson and Shawna Jessen, who identified herself as the office lead, told legislators the Office of Teaching and Learning (budget account 2675) needs an additional supervisory position to handle an expanding workload and to convert several previously grant‑funded tools into ongoing base funding.

\"We have around 22 full time positions that report to 1 director,\" Shawna Jessen told the committee. \"This position could increase our efficiency and effectiveness ... we are in need of this second position.\" The department called the enhancement E126 and said the position would supervise seven education‑program professionals.

The department also asked to cover recurring costs that had been funded with ESSER and other temporary sources: Zoom and Smartsheet licenses, Office 365 productivity suites for staff not previously budgeted, and conference registrations (about $16,000 a year). Officials said they were reallocating rent schedules to reflect actual work locations.

Other requests and program items

- Instructional and credentialing items: The office proposed one‑shot appropriations for Canvas (digital learning) licenses and other professional development platforms, though one digital learning platform enhancement (Discovery Education partnership) was removed in a budget amendment to fund teacher licensure work.

- Academic seals: Officials proposed establishing seals (STEAM/STEM, biliteracy and a Civic Seal of Excellence) that would appear on graduation credentials for students who complete specified coursework.

- IT replacement: The department requested computer replacements on a five‑year schedule and noted each replacement costs about $2,300 per workstation.

What lawmakers asked

Senator Schreibel asked how the supervisory position would change duties for the existing education programs director. Jessen said the workload is heavy, that she currently oversees several content areas, grants and the instructional materials review process, and that a second supervisor would reduce overload and improve timeliness on tasks such as content‑standard reviews and implementation guidance.

Context and fiscal notes

The department said some expenses are being brought into account 2675 because the work has moved into that office (for example, academic standards council support and financial‑literacy work). The department noted it is removing one enhancement (a digital learning collaborative) to balance priorities and to fund teacher‑licensure system needs.

Ending note

The committee paused for questions after the presentation; department staff said they would provide additional supporting details if requested.","Department officials asked the subcommittee to add an education program supervisor in the Office of Teaching and Learning, and to absorb recurring costs for software and licenses previously paid with expiring ESSER funds; the office also proposed academic seals and other one‑time purchases.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Department warns school‑based mental health grants are expiring; SafeVoice tips rising and contract costs debated

Nevada Department of Education seeks to expand pre-K seats while funding questions remain over federal grants and staffing

Superintendent defends $250,000‑per‑year studies to implement Commission on Innovation recommendations

Department says ESSER liquidation extensions are wrapping up; some funds reverted to federal government

Office of Teaching and Learning requests supervisory position and permanent funding for formerly grant‑paid tools