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NDE proposes flexible testing and scheduling changes for gifted-and-talented eligibility
Summary
The Nevada Department of Education proposed amending NAC language on gifted-and-talented eligibility to allow group-administered assessments, replace a weekly minutes requirement with a monthly minutes measure, and add a state-approved rubric.
The Nevada Department of Education opened a workshop on Aug. 13 to propose amendments to Nevada Administrative Code NAC 388.435 (eligibility for gifted and talented pupils). Laura O’Mara, education programs professional in the Office of Comprehensive Student Services, summarized the department’s draft.
O’Mara said the existing regulation requires assessments to be individually administered, which she said “creates undue hardship on districts” and limits options for group evaluations. The proposed amendment would permit group-administered cognitive and achievement assessments, add use of a state-approved rubric to determine eligibility, and change a required differentiated instruction time from 150 minutes per week to 600 minutes per month to provide scheduling flexibility.
O’Mara provided a brief history: gifted programming first appeared in Nevada law in 1973 and NAC 388.435 was established in 1988. She said the Gifted Education District Administrators Committee identified four needed changes: remove the individual-administration requirement, change the time measure to monthly, add a state-approved rubric, and streamline redundant language. Department materials note the full proposal is available online and that the department does not anticipate impacts to small businesses.
No in-person public comments were offered during the workshop in Carson City or Las Vegas. The department closed the workshop and said it will post the proposed language and accept additional written comments.
