Senate education committee approves one‑year Washoe pilot letting district use alternate K–3 reading test

Carson City — The Nevada Senate Committee on Education on Tuesday approved an amendment to Assembly Bill 386 that authorizes a one‑year pilot in Washoe County for the use of a Nevada Department of Education (NDE)–approved K–3 reading assessment other than the state’s current measure.

The pilot, approved by a unanimous committee vote to “amend and do pass,” requires the Washoe County School District to report assessment results to NDE and to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education. The amendment was offered during a work session after testimony and questions from senators, state education officials and local educators.

The bill’s sponsor, Assemblymember Heather Golding, said the measure “gives school districts the ability to choose a K–3 reading assessment tool that works best for the students, families, and schools in the district.” Golding told the committee that in Washoe County students were taking “two sets of assessments” and that the change would “cut the testing time in half for Washoe County students.”

Dylan Shaver, representing the Washoe County School District, said the district pursued an alternative after finding the statewide assessment “simply was not working for staff, for administration, or most especially for the kiddos.” He said the district’s procurement recommended a platform commonly called iReady and that the intent of the bill is to allow districts to select an assessment that meets the standards the NDE will set by regulation.

Amelia Tibo, speaking for the Nevada Department of Education, told the committee that the bill’s language would have the State Board of Education develop “a list of eligible assessments that districts could then opt into.” She said NDE must set regulatory standards and cut scores for any approved assessment and that an implementation and comparison study would be part of that process.

Several senators pressed for detail on comparability across districts, the timing of rulemaking and the risk of additional testing. Senator Cruz Crawford expressed concern about ensuring students meet benchmarks when districts use different assessments; Tibo said NDE would set cut scores and reporting rules "so that we can ensure comparability." Senator Rogich asked about federal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; witnesses responded that federal assessment and special‑education identification requirements remain in place and that this change applies to Nevada’s Read by Grade 3 program.

Supporters from Washoe’s education community told the committee the alternative assessment provides clearer, more actionable feedback for teachers and families. Kalen Evans, president of the Washoe Education Association, testified that “we are drastically over assessing our students” and that teachers find iReady data “more tangible” for classroom decisions. Sarah Adler of the Public Charter Coalition of Northern Nevada said charter schools using iReady welcome alignment between interim assessment and instruction.

Committee staff presented an amendment that narrows the bill’s scope to a one‑year Washoe pilot and requires reporting to NDE and the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education; Vice Chair (motion maker) moved to amend and do pass, Senator Cruz Crawford seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Committee policy analyst Jen Sturmgainer summarized the amendment for the record.

Committee members and state officials described an on‑ramp to broader implementation: districts would continue to use the state assessment in 2025–26 while NDE develops eligible assessments and cut scores, and broader opt‑in or use would be expected in later years once NDE completes rulemaking and validation work. State officials also said the bill contemplates that any state contract savings could be awarded back to districts to support reading programs, though specific amounts were not provided.

The committee’s action was limited to the amendment and recommendation; the change will proceed to the floor for further consideration. No public callers testified from Las Vegas or on the phone lines during the hearing.