It was another busy week at the Legislature. Here’s a quick recap of some of the education-related bills that were heard and voted out of education committees last week:

• AB533, which would establish a statewide open enrollment policy. (Learn more about current open enrollment policies here).
• AB335, which focuses on providing support for English language learners, who make up 14 percent of the state’s students. 
• AB184, which would allow some students to play sports after immediately transferring schools. It would also prevent the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association from taking any adverse action against a school or person for advocating in support or opposition of any policy in a public space.

I want to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions on what I should be covering to [email protected]. 

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News briefs

🍎 Education board start discussing state superintendent search — With State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert soon taking over as the Clark County schools’ superintendent, the State Board of Education started discussing the process to select her replacement at its Wednesday special meeting. The board is tasked under state law to recommend three finalists that the governor can choose from to name as the next state superintendent. 

• Context: Under state law, there’s two qualifications to serve as state superintendent:
  • Be at least 21 years old
  • Have the knowledge and ability to carry out the position’s duties as well as follow and enforce statutes and regulations related to K-12 education.
• Ebert hasn’t announced when she will leave her current position and start in her new role. The Clark County School Board is expected to vote on Ebert’s contract at its April 10 meeting. 
• Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo recently announced that he was appointing former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Steve Canavero to serve in the interim, effective April 14. Canavero served as the interim state superintendent in 2015, and resigned in 2019 for personal reasons.
  • This interim appointment prior to Ebert’s departure prompted concerns by board member Danielle Ford, who said Wednesday she has filed an open meeting law complaint with Attorney General Aaron Ford’s office because of the lack of transparency and opportunity for public input.
  • State law doesn’t spell out what happens when there’s a vacancy in that position, but former Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, and Brian Sandoval, a Republican, also made similar interim appointments. Those appointments weren’t questioned.  
• Elizabeth Ray, spokeswoman for Lombardo’s office, said in a Friday statement that the governor’s office and the Nevada Department of Education have determined this appointment “is not only permissible, but critical” while the board embarks on its search for a permanent state superintendent. 
• Unlike school districts such as Clark and Washoe counties, the state board doesn’t have funds to hire a search firm to help with the process, said Board President Katherine Dockweiler. 
• The board brainstormed criteria for what it wants in the next state superintendent and made plans to gather public input on its ideas. The board expects to finalize its criteria at its May 14 meeting, and hopes to decide on its three finalists by its July 30 meeting at the earliest.

📵Lawmakers consider school cellphone limits — Sen. Angie Taylor (D-Reno) has introduced a bill, SB444, that requires school districts to adopt policies around electronic devices to reduce learning distractions. It would include exceptions for students with disabilities who need an electronic device as part of their accommodation plan, during emergencies or when teachers allow it. 

“While we know these devices are necessary and often contribute to the learning, we know they can also become a distraction. It hinders not only a student's ability to learn … it also impacts the teacher's ability to teach,” Taylor said during the Senate Education Committee’s Wednesday meeting. 

• Context: School districts such as those in Carson City, Clark, Nye and Washoe counties already have their own policy restricting cellphones during class. 
• Six states, including Florida and Indiana, have a statewide ban on the use of cellphones in classrooms. But Taylor’s bill leaves it up to districts to craft a policy that works best for them. 
• “Leaving it up to the school districts to have a policy that works for them, I think, is the ideal solution,” said Sen. Robin Titus (R-Wellington).
• Supporters included the Nevada State Education Association, the Nevada Association of School Boards, the Nevada Association of School Superintendents and the Clark County School District.

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School Spotlight

Henderson teacher cultivating students’ passion for glass art

The pressure was on for Henderson high school senior Scarlet Nielsen as she worked on Wednesday to bring her sculpture of a kingfisher to life. 

The Green Valley student used copper wires and blue glass beads — representing the tropical bird’s bright blue and orange feathers — to form its body and wings. She saw the bird while on a river rafting tour with her family in Costa Rica during the Thanksgiving break. 

“They would just dive bomb on us,” she said. “They were so fun. They’re the prettiest birds and I wanted to do a little tribute to my trip.”

Nielsen was one of several Green Valley students’ whose pieces were featured in the annual Glass Craft and Bead Expo held at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas this past weekend. 

Fine art teacher Erica Wright’s students began attending the expo 14 years ago, almost as long as she’s been teaching at Green Valley. Her studio art class is the only one in the Clark County School District that teaches glass art. 

“My goal for all my art classes is that everything they make is beautiful and functional,” she said. “It should have a purpose.”

The expo offers free admission to all of her students to see the exhibit and a handful of her students also received scholarships to attend classes offered during the event. Wright said many of her students leave the expo inspired to create. 

“I have students that continue working in glass for years and years after that,” Wright said. “As a teacher, that’s exciting, that’s the goal, to make lifelong makers.”

Students in Wright’s classes begin by making mosaics to get comfortable with cutting and grinding glass, before making more complex glass suncatchers and jewelry using soldering techniques. 

Nielsen, who plays basketball and baseball, said the art class gives her a chance to express a different side of herself.

“It’s a whole different side of my brain, one I don't even use so it's not that exhausting,” Nielsen said. 

Last year, the expo also donated two kilns, a glass grinder and enough glass to sustain the class throughout the school year. Glass is the most expensive material used in Wright’s class, and the donation is critical to keep the class going as it is only funded by student fees. 

Wright said she hopes to create interest in the class districtwide, and inspire other art teachers to develop their own glass art classes. 

“It’s such an amazing material and such an amazing opportunity for the district,” Wright said. “Not everybody loves drawing, not everybody loves paint, some people can’t stand the feeling of clay, but everybody is fascinated by glass.”

Have a student or staffer who we should feature in the next edition of School Spotlight? Share your nominations with me at [email protected].

Reading Assignments

Trump admin freezes $29M in unspent COVID aid to Nevada schools

The state’s top education official said it's unclear whether the money is lost for good or if there’s a chance the administration will consider giving schools more time.

Nevada board moves to limit transgender athletes in school sports

A new policy will limit students to playing sports that align with the sex listed on their “unaltered original birth certificate.”

Indy Explains: What are open enrollment policies, and what do Nevada lawmakers want to change?

School districts such as Clark and Washoe counties already have their own open enrollment policies. A 2025 bill would create a statewide standard. 

Extra Credit

Chalkbeat: Trump education department threatens federal school funding nationwide over DEI

The department is giving state education agencies 10 days to certify that their schools do not engage in any practices that the administration believes illegally promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Nevada Current: Legislature resurrects proposal to reset property tax valuation when home is sold

The bill is supported by teachers who say this will help increase school funding. 

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