NDE-backed bill would centralize educator scholarships, add staff-surveys and pare duplicate reports; committee hears SB 81

Senate Bill 81, presented to the Senate Committee on Education by Nevada Department of Education officials, would centralize several educator scholarship programs at NDE, require certain staff and school-climate survey data be included in accountability calculations (when staff participation meets an 85% threshold), and simplify multiple reporting deadlines tied to Nevada’s Pupil Centered Funding Plan.

“The survey data informs school improvement plans and will not be used punitively,” Megan Peterson, Deputy Superintendent and Student Investment Division director at the Nevada Department of Education, told the committee. Peterson described the bill as targeting two primary objectives: improving school working conditions to support recruitment and retention, and reducing administrative inefficiencies.

NDE’s educator licensure director, Jeff Brisky, told the committee the department has worked with researchers since 2015 and has piloted a Teacher Exit/Transfer Survey and a Staff Working Conditions Survey in 2024. He said SB 81 would require NDE to include that survey information in the statewide accountability system when participation thresholds are met.

The bill would also remove the State Board of Education from direct administration of certain educator scholarships, giving NDE authority to award funds and creating a proposed block grant to reduce subgrant administrative burdens. "The idea behind the block grant would be to have one grant for all the different purposes rather than three separate subgrants," Brisky said.

Other notable provisions in SB 81: - Pathways and licensure: the bill removes an alternative route to licensure for administrators and creates a streamlined pathway for adding an administrator endorsement to existing teaching or program licenses. - Scholarships: expands Teach Nevada Scholarship eligibility to Nevada residents who completed high school outside the state; allows funds to remain in accounts (non-reversion) and permits universities and other providers to award advancement scholarships for high-need subject areas. - Reporting and technical changes: moves the annual expenditure report due date from November 1 to the first week of January; reduces class-size reduction reporting from quarterly to semiannual submission; removes a duplicative February 11 legislative report; updates statute to align program names tied to the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan.

Supporters: Susan Kima, executive director of the Nevada Association of School Superintendents, testified in support, saying the bill creates efficiencies while maintaining accountability. Dylan Shaver, representing the Washoe County School District, also testified in support and thanked NDE staff for working cooperatively with districts.

Neutral/concerned testimony: John Eppolito testified neutrally and raised concerns about American Institutes for Research (AIR), which NDE has used for some survey work; his remarks questioned AIR's history and role in student assessments. Committee members asked NDE staff for copies of the surveys and for clarification on the block-grant language and the source of scholarship funding.

The committee held Senator-led discussion but did not record a committee vote on SB 81 during the hearing portion of the agenda. NDE staff said conceptual amendments have been submitted and the department will continue to work with stakeholders on implementation details.

Ending: The committee requested copies of the working-conditions and exit surveys and sought further clarifications about block grants and federal funding implications. NDE officials said they will coordinate with committee staff and districts on survey materials and implementation timelines.