Carson City — SB135, which would appropriate $1 million to Communities in Schools (CIS) of Nevada to expand integrated student support services, received support testimony in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Sen. Melanie Scheibel said CIS provides an evidence‑based model of integrated supports—sometimes called wraparound services—addressing academic, social and emotional barriers. Tammy Hans Lehr, CIS CEO, told the committee the organization had previously received $4 million in 2023 and that subsequent expansion produced large outcomes: CIS reported a 97 percent graduation rate for serviced high‑school seniors who were off track when first connected to CIS and said 90 percent of its schools reduced chronic absenteeism in the prior year.

Why it matters

Proponents argued the program is cost‑effective and focused on keeping students in school, improving graduation and promotion metrics. The state Department of Education has approved the model as an evidence‑based intervention that meets the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) highest tier for student‑level outcomes, sponsors said.

Fiscal note and testimony

The appropriation is not included in the governor’s executive budget and carries no fiscal note; CIS asked for the $1 million general‑fund appropriation to scale the program into more counties and schools. Testimony from Clark County School District and the Nevada Association of School Superintendents echoed support, citing CIS’s role in improving graduation and attendance metrics.

Outcome

No opposition testified in committee. Sponsors said the appropriation would accelerate expansion and highlighted that CIS already operates in more than 118 schools across Clark, Elko, Humboldt and Washoe, serving students in elementary through high school.

Next steps

The committee may consider the appropriation as an add‑on item during floor or conference deliberations; sponsors argued expansion delivers measurable student outcomes and supported targeted use of the appropriation to extend services statewide.