[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6636275,"mediaKeyId","2611344-c07020805ccab257e3cb4788190948fd","parentId",2611344,"title","Nevada committee hears bill to expand virtual early-childhood program, funds proposed","audioSeconds",2202,"startMs",1280000,"endMs",3482000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2611344-c07020805ccab257e3cb4788190948fd&start=1280&end=3482","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2611344-c07020805ccab257e3cb4788190948fd/thumbnail_1280000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6636275/Nevada/Nevada-committee-hears-bill-to-expand-virtual-early-childhood-program-funds-proposed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636275-ad03e5ce59612862fc2234ed019d750e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159789&Signature=SpqclkI1v-9eIZx2UszbPiZYXbvUt~N4Cd4E7tbYUGq9S~OdfrNCrZTv-~xb3Gd~pR0oKSw5hOdeAqf3gGrYp4qqIqVJ68ZxH8mk3PdgB-mcFGdC4qGErJm0S8eFEL3kTmaUHVI~gj1H99WMFGN3eM9wLXsszpc7U0TYP8AF3f5Q2jEyuTqRvp3JyvMwU9vYgPzwTAwOjPZJykXewFndYXUFyO8E3Ybiitf9k6DLXOsTqhkN-76qttJJ37ANOhXUGOOIsDjeDhBBj-Pq26Kq1uKi8Re3zf7BsDztpHPdJnOKDbLnCei~jOihyhde4yybnJwCmM17Zbo2bEDdFWPE8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada Legislature","date","2025-03-13T22:56:16.057Z","article","Assemblymember Danielle Monroe Moreno on behalf of the State Assembly presented Assembly Bill 212 on the virtual early childhood family engagement program and asked the Assembly Committee on Education to expand the pilot statewide and provide additional funding.

AB 212 would rename the existing pilot by dropping “pilot” from its title, extend reporting deadlines to 2027, and, as introduced, would appropriate $1,000,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2025–26 and an additional $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026–27 to the Department of Health and Human Services to implement the program.

The bill sponsor said the program, delivered through Waterford UPSTART, provides at-home, 15-minutes-a-day lessons in reading, math and science and supports families with coaches and, where needed, laptops and internet service. Leslie Pittman of the Waterford Institute told the committee that a competitive state contract awarded in May 2024 led to a Nevada Virtual Early Childhood Pilot Project; she said 395 children were registered at the conclusion of the program’s first fiscal year and that, as of her testimony, 1,170 children were enrolled, 994 children had received laptops and 474 households had received internet service.

Kennard (Kenard) Jones, identified as a Waterford vice president, described family coaches who “are on call basically almost 24/7” to help caregivers keep children engaged and to tailor instruction. He and Pittman said the program is used where site-based pre‑K seats are unavailable or where families cannot access center-based programs because of transportation, language, waiting lists or other barriers.

Supporters who testified included the Charter School Association of Nevada and the University of Nevada’s College of Education, both urging the committee to expand access for children who otherwise lack preschool options. Lindsey Diamond of the University of Nevada described the pilot as a useful complement for families who lack in-person pre‑K.

Neutral and opposing witnesses raised concerns about screen time and whether virtual programs can substitute for hands-on, in-person early childhood education. Lianne McAllister, executive director of the Nevada chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the AAP recognizes both risks and learning opportunities related to media and urged that media not crowd out play or interpersonal time. Justice Forrest of the Nevada Association for the Education of Young Children said tactile, in-person early childhood experiences cannot be replicated by screens and the association therefore opposed treating virtual options as a full substitute for pre‑K.

A member of the public, Matthew Winterhawk, opposed the bill on grounds that removing or loosening screen‑time safeguards would expose young children to excessive digital time and questioned transparency around program spending. Committee testimony and the sponsor’s remarks also noted that an amendment was submitted that retains language limiting program screen time to amounts consistent with American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations; witnesses said the amendment addressed several stakeholder concerns.

Committee members asked about program demographics and devices. Pittman said the mandatory report required by Assembly Bill 348 (2023) provides demographic detail for the original cohort and said DHHS, which administers the program, collects further data; she said Waterford provides laptops and internet to families who need them and that families usually keep the laptop after program completion while subsidized internet is removed when the program ends.

Materials submitted to the committee included a combined cohort analysis of roughly 3,000 Nevada children who participated in Upstart from 2020–2024; the report, provided as an exhibit, showed learning gains for the combined cohort, the presenters said. The program materials also noted alignment to Nevada’s pre‑K standards and Head Start outcomes and that the Waterford curriculum has been used in multiple states since about 2009.

No formal action or vote occurred during the hearing. The committee closed the hearing on AB 212 after testimony and questions and recessed.

The committee record includes program usage figures, representations about device and internet provision, and the sponsor’s proposed appropriation; the bill’s amendment retained an AAP screen‑time recommendation and extended reporting deadlines.

Members, stakeholders and several advocacy organizations said they want continued monitoring of outcomes if the state enlarges the program, with preference expressed by multiple witnesses for in‑person pre‑K when it is available.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/13/2025 - Assembly Committee on Education","oneSentenceSummary","Assemblymember Danielle Monroe Moreno asked the Assembly Education Committee to expand Nevada’s virtual early childhood family engagement program and to fund it with $1 million in each of the next two fiscal years.","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},6636271,"UNLV-backed pilot would let alternative assessment supplement Praxis for new Nevada teachers; sponsors and unions back bill",2416,3691000,6107000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2611344-c07020805ccab257e3cb4788190948fd&start=3691&end=6107","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2611344-c07020805ccab257e3cb4788190948fd/thumbnail_3691000.jpg","/articles/6636271/Nevada/UNLV-backed-pilot-would-let-alternative-assessment-supplement-Praxis-for-new-Nevada-teachers-sponsors-and-unions-back-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636271-ec69f09c16e14f3787ca34511246422e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159789&Signature=mn5~z6ZoYApnvxr8F8Pa86SVf0QwbJBsANTj5vSv3KmqcPV5KzpSN7ZiMQljSpfP-yaA1iDgm2ATTJBUhbW4D6AltvxPh5HbdB~0n6ckL5I34WiY~qHBhB2~nyYGuiw9SFW0ciGiWhkSS53~vcFUntucCJD8Sn5hIwF260NvpBj5jNCIiN3b8KUj9sq81SZuLufgp0nSxjox9KemGzApvQrHO7F7VTeSOwEtAaCfTByjo-gXWHquIVekQtRN9rnoG9AH3wXigm2Dmyci~5jptS5BThfGdCnZbIpVLdI64qE1KvX-Myx0XsSRctiAL0RYtkW6gmfM3qQvnx5wq9G7Cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember Selena Torres Fawcett presented Assembly Bill 286, the \"Teaching Beyond Testing Act,\" proposing a pilot to assess teacher candidates through alternative, performance‑based methods and structured mentorship.

The presenters—Dean Danica Hayes and Associate Dean Kenneth (Kenny) Varner of the UNLV College of Education—said the pilot aims to supplement, not simply replace, existing licensure mechanisms by aligning assessments with the Nevada Educator Performance Framework (NEPF) and embedding a sustained mentorship model to support early‑career teachers. They said Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) tests depend heavily on multiple‑choice test‑taking skills and can present barriers for candidates who otherwise demonstrate classroom competence.

UNLV’s proposal described a structured program including a trained mentor for each candidate, roughly 10 professional‑development sessions focused on instruction, classroom management, assessment and culturally responsive practice, and performance artifacts such as observed lessons and student work samples. Varner said the pilot would limit scale to preserve data quality—“up to 100 participants per year”–and aim for geographic and licensure‑area diversity. UNLV also proposed mentor training, mentors with at least three years of “highly effective” NEPF ratings, and tuition support for mentors who complete a master’s in teacher leadership.

Support came from a range of education stakeholders. The Nevada State Education Association, Nevada System of Higher Education, Nevada State University, the Nevada Association of School Superintendents and the Charter School Association of Nevada testified in favor, saying the pilot could remove unnecessary barriers and strengthen recruitment and retention. Several institutions said they would consider participating; the Assembly sponsor added the amendment was revised to permit any NSHE institution to run a pilot rather than limiting it to UNLV and to remove a direct appropriation from the bill text.

Opposition testimony, including a public commenter who also spoke against AB212, argued the bill would lower licensing standards and risk political or subjective hiring; that critic urged lawmakers to prioritize teacher pay and hiring instead of funding a pilot. The sponsor and university presenters said the pilot is evidence‑focused and intended to produce data for further legislative consideration; they described annual reporting requirements to the Legislature, the State Board of Education and the Commission on Professional Standards.

Committee members questioned scale, eligibility and whether the Praxis requirement remained; that point produced different explanations in the record. Varner and other presenters described Section 1 as written to authorize an exemption from the basic competency test requirement for pilot participants, while later remarks from the sponsor stated the bill does not remove the Praxis requirement and that mentors and program structure—not a testing waiver—are central. The transcript therefore records both descriptions; the committee did not take an action resolving the difference during the hearing.

The bill’s amended language (as discussed during testimony) extends the pilot’s availability through June 2029 and requires annual reports and performance data. The amendment removed a state appropriation from the bill text, making participation permissive for NSHE institutions that choose to stand up the program. No committee vote occurred during the hearing; the sponsor urged support and said the pilot is intended to generate data to determine whether the approach should expand.","AB286 would create a performance‑based pilot for teacher licensure, pairing early-career candidates with trained mentors and structured professional development. UNLV and several education organizations supported the measure; opponents warned the bill could lower standards.","actionData","errors"]

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Nevada committee hears bill to expand virtual early-childhood program, funds proposed

UNLV-backed pilot would let alternative assessment supplement Praxis for new Nevada teachers; sponsors and unions back bill