Nevada education panel reviews NEPF data and outlines phased rollout of SB 460 and AB 236

CARSON CITY / LAS VEGAS — At a Sept. 24 meeting of the Teachers and Leaders Council, Nevada Department of Education officials reviewed statewide ratings and survey results for the Nevada Educator Performance Framework (NEPF) and outlined a phased implementation plan for 2025 laws that will change evaluation, probationary status and evaluator certification rules.

Kathy Hoyt, assistant director of the Office of Educator Development, Licensure and Family Engagement at the Nevada Department of Education (NDE), presented the NEPF results, field-study participation and a timeline for implementing provisions of Senate Bill 460 (SB 460) and Assembly Bill 236 (AB 236). Hoyt told the council that NRS 391.485 requires an annual review of the statewide performance-evaluation system and that NDE collected ratings and interview data from districts as part of that work.

The presentation summarized summative evaluation ratings for roughly 19,250 teachers reported statewide and noted data limitations, including class-size adjustments affecting about 2–2.5% of positions and rules that suppress small-N subgroup reporting. Hoyt said the department received 7,252 responses to its monitoring-for-continuous-improvement survey (about 6,000 from teachers, roughly 31% of teachers statewide, and about 584 administrators, roughly 48% of administrators). "We had 7,252 survey responses. That is one of the highest numbers that we have seen over the last 4 to 5 years of survey responses," Hoyt said.

Why this matters: the new state laws will require NDE and local districts to adopt new protocols and regulations that affect tens of thousands of educators and the content, timing and scoring of evaluations. NDE officials repeatedly said the changes will roll out in phases beginning July 1, 2025, with major implementation steps completed by July 1, 2027.

Key data and NDE initiatives - NEPF field study: NDE is running a redesigned field study for 2025–26 with districts split into year‑1 and year‑2 cohorts (Clark County and selected charter and rural districts among participants). NDE is offering biweekly virtual office hours for school leaders taking part in the field study. - Ratings by standard: Hoyt reported instructional-practice and professional-responsibility standards where districts most and least often scored highly. She said teachers’ highest instructional-practice standard remained standard 2 (high-cognitive-demand learning tasks) and lowest was standard 4 (metacognitive strategies), and that for administrators certain instructional-leadership and professional-practice standards showed consistent patterns across districts. - Survey turnout and limitations: NDE reported a statewide teacher survey response rate of about 31% and administrators about 48%, exceeding a cited national benchmark of about 29% for employee-group surveys. Hoyt noted local control of survey distribution and small N suppression (privacy) limit some district-level insight.

Legislative changes and implementation timeline - AB 236: Section 2 revises how some TLC teacher seats are filled: for each vacancy in teacher/other licensed educational personnel categories, two education associations will now submit nominees (transcript cites Clark County Education Association and Nevada State Education Association). NDE has notified those associations and the change applies to vacancies effective Oct. 1, 2025. - SB 460 (selected sections affecting NEPF): NDE outlined phased implementation of multiple provisions that touch NEPF practice, oversight and accountability: - Performance improvement plans (PIPs): Required after two consecutive years rated ineffective or developing (the transcript uses the bill language "minimally effective" to refer to the developing rating). PIPs must include measurable goals, professional development, a mentor or coach assignment and quarterly review; NDE will draft Nevada Administrative Code implementing regulations. Hoyt summarized: "Performance improvement plans are required after 2 consecutive years of ineffective or minimally, ineffective ratings." - Return to probationary status and dismissal process: Post-probationary teachers and administrators may be returned to probation for up to two school years if consistently ineffective or if they fail to make adequate progress on a PIP. District superintendents may recommend dismissal if progress is inadequate; affected employees are entitled to notice and hearing under existing NRS procedures. - Evaluation review for principal supervisors: Beginning July 1, 2027, principal supervisors must annually review 3% of licensed educator evaluations in the schools they oversee. Reviews must include document audits, interviews with evaluators and evaluees, and verification to NDE by May 15 each year; incorrectly conducted evaluations can trigger a broader review of an individual administrator’s evaluations. - Educational growth goals replace student learning goals (SLGs): Beginning July 1, 2027, educational growth goals will still comprise 15% of an educator’s summative score but move to a 1–5 scale based on percentage of students meeting growth thresholds. For teachers of English language arts, mathematics and science, the bill requires use of state-administered assessments referenced in statute (transcript cites "NRS 3 9105"). Teachers in other subjects (for example, CTE, arts, P.E.) will use course‑embedded, teacher‑developed assessments aligned to standards and areas of pupil need. - Administrator evaluator certification: SB 460 requires a certification program for administrators who conduct evaluations, to be developed by NDE in consultation with TLC; NDE tentatively plans training materials and virtual modules and will require districts to report annually that administrators conducting evaluations are certified. Hoyt said work on the certification framework is underway with RPDP partners and local liaisons. - Observation cycles for first‑year probationary teachers: Observation timing requirements change for first-year probationary teachers: the first observation (preconference, observation and postconference) must occur within the first 30 days of school, a second observation within 75–105 days, and a third observation in the final 40 days of the school year. Full three-cycle requirements remain for educators rated developing or ineffective.

NDE process and next steps NDE said it will form a work group (district liaisons, school leaders, RPDP representatives) to advise regulation language, templates and guidance. The department plans to begin work-group meetings in November and continue monthly through June; materials will be provided in advance and the work will return to TLC for consultation. NDE staff said some regulations could be presented to TLC in November as regulation workshops if timing allows.

Action taken during the meeting The council approved the minutes from the May 15, 2025, meeting. Member Susan Veil moved to approve the minutes; a second was recorded and the motion passed.

What’s next NDE staff said they will provide draft regulations, guidance and work‑group materials to TLC as they are developed and anticipates returning with updates at the council’s November meeting (the department named a tentative date of Nov. 19). Council members asked for clearer guidance on how the new educational-growth measures will apply to special education, elementary multi‑subject teachers and career‑technical education teachers; NDE said those details are still being worked out and will be addressed in forthcoming guidance.

(Reporting based on remarks and slides presented by Kathy Hoyt and other NDE staff at the Sept. 24 Teachers and Leaders Council meeting; direct quotes are attributed to speakers listed below.)