Nevada DOE proposes narrower reporting process for school social and environmental indicators

The Nevada Department of Education opened a public workshop on Aug. 13 to review proposed amendments to Nevada Administrative Code provisions requiring school districts and charter schools to identify social and environmental factors that affect pupils’ educational experiences. Deputy McGill opened the session and asked Lanisha Battle to present the changes.

Lanisha Battle, director of the Office for Safe and Respectful Learning Environment, said the department is proposing to require districts and charter schools to “annually review and identify social and environmental factors … using the list of nationally accepted indicators provided by the department pursuant to subsection 3.” Battle said the posted regulation language would be edited to remove several illustrative measures and to add a department-provided set of up to three publicly available, credible data sources for each factor and a standard reporting template.

The department told attendees the goal of the edits is to reduce the reporting burden on districts while ensuring compliance with the statute. Battle said the draft would: (1) limit the number of data sources the department provides for each factor; (2) supply a standard reporting template; and (3) post the list and template on the department’s website. “We appreciate the feedback about reducing the burden of this regulation on schools and districts,” she said.

Under the proposed wording shown during the workshop, the department’s list would include nationally accepted indicators and may cover factors such as housing stability, food security, poverty and employment, transportation access, access to health care, community safety and prevalence of trauma. The draft also adds language requiring each district or charter governing body to submit an annual report using the department’s template, and to include a brief narrative (not to exceed 250 words) describing how each selected factor is considered in decision-making.

Deputy McGill said the department would post the revised draft after the workshop and invited additional written feedback. No public commenters spoke during the Carson City or Las Vegas in-person periods for this workshop.

The department emphasized that workshops are an initial regulatory step and that the posted language will be updated to reflect stakeholder comments. The department also reminded attendees that all meeting materials are available on its website and that public comment can be submitted by email to the board’s comment address.