Ryan Reeves addresses Nevada board on critical declines in at-risk student funding

Public funding for at-risk students took center stage at the Nevada State Board of Education meeting on May 14, 2025, as Ryan Reeves, COO of Academica Nevada, raised urgent concerns about significant budget cuts. Reeves highlighted that funding for at-risk students has plummeted from $208 million in fiscal year 2025 to just $165 million for fiscal year 2026, a staggering drop of $44 million. This reduction comes at a time when the state’s graduation rate stands at 81.6%, leaving 18.4% of students at risk of not graduating.

Reeves emphasized the critical need for the board to engage with ongoing legislative actions that could further impact funding. He pointed out that the current system has misidentified and underidentified at-risk students, leading to a budget that now only allocates resources to 11% of students, down from previous years. “Do we really believe that there’s $44 million less in at-risk students in the state right now?” he questioned, urging the board to reconsider the implications of these funding decisions.

The meeting underscored the urgency of the situation, with Reeves noting that the governor has promised to veto the budget unless changes are made. As the board prepares to approve a new funding system, the discussions around at-risk funding remain pivotal, with potential consequences for thousands of Nevada students. The board's next steps will be crucial in determining how effectively they can advocate for the resources needed to support vulnerable populations in the education system.