Nevada senators hear bill to let JROTC instructors use military provisional credentials for state licensure
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Summary
Sen. Lori Rogich introduced Senate Bill 175, which would allow veterans and active-duty members with JROTC instructor certification to obtain Nevada JROTC teaching licenses as if they had completed the state's alternative route to licensure program.
Carson City — Sen. Lori Rogich (R.-Dist. 11) introduced Senate Bill 175 on behalf of veterans and school districts seeking to remove barriers that prevent federally certified JROTC instructors from obtaining Nevada JROTC teaching licenses.
SB175 would authorize members or veterans of the armed forces who hold JROTC instructor certification to obtain Nevada JROTC teaching licenses “as if such person has completed the alternative route to licensure program,” and would require school districts to consider military education and JROTC certification as credit toward required qualifications for JROTC instructor positions. Rogich told the Senate Committee on Education the bill is aimed at addressing an educator shortage while honoring military service.
Supporters said the most immediate problem is that provisional or interim certification language used by the services — particularly the Air Force — is not being accepted by the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) as sufficient proof to issue a provisional state JROTC license, which prevents instructors from being hired and paid at the appropriate rate while federal background checks proceed.
“I received my Air Force Junior ROTC provisional certification,” said retired Senior Master Sergeant Santiago “Bobby” Padilla, who testified remotely from Las Vegas. He said his provisional Air Force certification allowed him to perform instructor duties under supervision but that NDE denied his application on Sept. 17, 2024, because the Air Force document did not constitute full certification for Nevada. “Nevada’s current certification policy places barriers for highly qualified veterans from serving in these programs, even though they are vetted through their military branch and ready to teach,” Padilla said. “I urge this committee to support and pass Senate Bill 175.”
Lieutenant Colonel Scott Caldwell, director of JROTC for the Washoe County School District, described the operational impact: provisional letters from a service typically clear the candidate to be interviewed and enter the classroom under “line-of-sight” supervision while a federal background investigation continues. Caldwell said other services use wording such as “prequalified” or “approved certification,” which NDE has accepted; the Air Force’s use of “provisional” has been treated differently, producing what he called a persistent hiring disruption.
Several veteran and education-organization witnesses voiced support. Susan Kima, executive director of the Nevada Association of School Superintendents, said districts back removing barriers to hiring qualified JROTC instructors. Andrew Lapelbit, chairman of the United Veterans Legislative Council, told the committee the group supports codifying the change in law even if administrative remedies are pursued in parallel.
At least one committee member suggested contacting the Nevada Department of Education first to see whether the issue could be resolved through regulation rather than statute. “I don’t think the bill is necessary,” said Sen. Dondero Loop, a certificated educator, adding she believed NDE might be able to address acceptance of service-issued provisional letters administratively but offered to work with the sponsor if needed. Rogich said she would reach out to NDE staff and work with colleagues on a conceptual amendment if an administrative fix proved insufficient.
The bill carries a fiscal note of $25,000, Rogich said, noting the Department of Education would need a software update to process the application under the change. No formal committee vote on the bill was recorded at the hearing; the committee heard testimony and entered follow-up questions for the sponsor and for NDE engagement.
Key details and status
• Sponsor: Sen. Lori Rogich, Senate District 11. • Primary supporters at the hearing: Santiago “Bobby” Padilla (retired senior master sergeant, U.S. Air Force), Lt. Col. Scott Caldwell (director, Washoe County School District JROTC), Assemblyman Ken Gray, Nevada Association of School Superintendents, United Veterans Legislative Council and local veterans groups. • Fiscal note: $25,000 reported for NDE software changes (as presented by sponsor). • Next steps indicated at the hearing: sponsor will contact the Nevada Department of Education and consider a conceptual amendment if an administrative solution cannot be reached; no committee action or vote recorded at this session.
Why it matters
Committee members and district officials said the change could allow Nevada schools to hire experienced military instructors sooner, keep JROTC slots from shifting to other states, and reduce administrative delays that have left some schools short of instructors. At the same time, several legislators urged preserving Nevada’s standards for classroom instruction and ensuring any licensure change is clearly limited to JROTC subject-area authorization and does not create unintended broader teaching privileges.
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