Nevada Assembly reviews early childhood literacy funding amid budget constraints

The Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance Subcommittee on K-12/Higher Education/CIP convened on April 15, 2025, to discuss critical budgetary matters concerning early childhood education and related programs in Nevada. The meeting focused on the funding allocations for early childhood literacy and readiness programs, as well as the implications of proposed budget amendments.

The session began with a review of the early childhood literacy and readiness budget, established under Assembly Bill 400, which allocated $70 million annually for the 2023-2025 biennium. The governor's recommended budget proposed maintaining this funding level for the 2025-2027 biennium. However, a budget amendment suggested converting this ongoing funding into a one-time appropriation of $140 million for fiscal year 2026 to address a structural deficit.

The subcommittee highlighted the distribution challenges faced in the previous fiscal year, where only $32.6 million of the allocated $70 million was utilized, resulting in the funding of 665 pre-K seats and various literacy programs. The department projected an increase in pre-K seats for the upcoming biennium, with 3,488 seats anticipated for fiscal year 2026 and 5,588 for fiscal year 2027, contingent on adequate staffing and facilities.

A significant decision point for the subcommittee was whether to approve the governor's recommendation for ongoing funding or to adopt a more limited funding approach focused solely on pre-K seats. The subcommittee ultimately voted to recommend $29.3 million for fiscal year 2026 and $47 million for fiscal year 2027, exclusively for pre-K seats, reflecting a shift in priorities towards early childhood education.

Further discussions addressed the consolidation of funding for pre-K seats under the Office of Early Learning and Development, allowing for better tracking of literacy program expenses. The subcommittee also considered the implications of potential funding reductions due to the expiration of federal grants and the need for ongoing monitoring of program effectiveness.

In addition to early childhood education, the meeting covered the educator effectiveness budget, which included a recommendation for $250,000 annually to support studies by the National Center on Education and the Economy. This funding aims to enhance educational accountability measures and improve Nevada's education policies.

The subcommittee concluded with a series of motions to approve various budget recommendations, including the elimination of expiring federal grant funds and adjustments to the funding structure for career and technical education programs. The decisions made during this meeting will significantly impact the future of early childhood education and related initiatives in Nevada, emphasizing the need for strategic funding to support educational outcomes.