Nevada subcommittees fund pre-K seats, consolidate literacy funding, cut some federal grants

A joint subcommittee of the Nevada Legislature on K‑12 education voted to prioritize funding for pre‑K seats and to consolidate early childhood program funding under the Office of Early Learning and Development.

The subcommittee recommended general fund appropriations of $29,300,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $47,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 to fund pre‑K seats (motion approved by voice). Fiscal staff described this as “option 2,” meaning the subcommittee chose to fund pre‑K seats rather than maintain a separate funding stream for literacy programs.

Why it matters: lawmakers and witnesses said the priority is to expand access to classroom seats for 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds while the department and providers work to scale capacity. Yuri Yakovlev of the Legislature’s Fiscal Analysis Division said the department projects funding those amounts would support about 3,488 seats in FY26 and 5,588 seats in FY27 based on department projections and an assumed per‑seat rate.

Key details and votes - The subcommittee approved consolidating the pre‑K seat funding into the Office of Early Learning and Development (motion approved by voice). Fiscal staff recommended moving the appropriation to that account to enable tracking of seat funding separately from literacy program grants. - The subcommittee also voted to recommend that pre‑K seats funded by the state pre‑K program be paid at a per‑seat rate of $8,410 in each year of the 2025–27 biennium, maintaining the current legislatively approved rate rather than tying the rate to the pupil‑center funding plan or the adjusted base per‑pupil amount (motion approved by voice).

Federal grant adjustments and contract decisions - The subcommittee recommended eliminating the $9,300,000 of expiring federal Preschool Development Grant authority in FY27 and asked fiscal staff to reallocate FY26 preschool development grant funds if necessary (motion approved by voice). The department reported the grant expires on 12/30/2026 and that a federal cost‑extension had not been provided. - Fiscal staff recommended reducing the transfer of Child Care and Development Block Grant funds from the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services to $6,500,000 per year; the subcommittee approved that technical adjustment (motion approved by voice). - A proposed contract to fund kindergarten assessments (about $459,717 per year as budgeted) was not approved; the department indicated the contract currently depended on COVID funds and no alternative funding was identified (motion approved by voice to not recommend approval). - A requested new education information officer position funded with preschool development grant and childcare block grant funding was not recommended because of federal grant expirations; the subcommittee approved not recommending the position (motion approved by voice).

Context and agency comments - Yuri Yakovlev (LCB Fiscal Analysis) summarized allocations and noted that in FY24 only a portion of the governor’s recommended $70 million per year for early childhood literacy/readiness was distributed because providers needed time to set up programs; in FY25 the department said it allocated more than $60 million. Deputy Superintendent Megan Peterson said routine subrecipient monitoring exists but that a separate program audit could be requested.

What’s next - Fiscal staff will incorporate the subcommittee’s technical adjustments into the 2025 K‑12 funding bill language and prepare any required work programs and budget language for the full committees. The subcommittee’s choices will inform final budget bills presented to the full Legislature.