Four months into the job and after a statewide tour, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Victor Wakefield has a vision for K-12 education in the state.

As he told members of the state Board of Education during their March 11 meeting, his philosophy is that every day, Nevada students should be building knowledge, engaging with grade-level content and instruction, solving complex problems and making progress toward their postsecondary goals. 

"Our priorities are focusing to make sure that every dollar that is invested in education is spent well," Wakefield said during a follow-up interview March 12 with The Nevada Independent. "My philosophy is that if we can be really strategic in our work, show results, it'll help make it clear what the Legislature should be investing in."

Wakefield, whose background is in leadership with the Teach for America teacher development program, developed his plan after a statewide tour that has so far included at least 25 classroom visits across eight different districts.

His priorities are: 

1. Strong foundations
2. Empowering pathways
3. Equipped leaders and educators
4. Informed and connected families
5. Aligned systems

Wakefield said one way to ensure students have a strong foundation early on is pre-K expansion. 

In 2025, lawmakers approved $21 million for early childhood literacy and readiness programs as well as facilities and expanded eligibility for pre-K as part of SB460. It's helped the state nearly double the number of students enrolled in its state-funded, free pre-K program this school year. Still, less than 1 in 5 Nevada 4-year-olds were enrolled in a high-quality pre-K program this school year. 

Program officials say hundreds of seats are still vacant across the state in part because they didn't have much time to figure out classroom space and do outreach about the expanded eligibility after the bill's June passage. 

Wakefield said districts have suggested adding pre-K funding to the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan to make it more stable and predictable. Compared with K-12 education, pre-K has been more dependent on grants. 

During a March 17 interim legislative meeting on education last week, Wakefield told lawmakers that while allocating pre-K funding outside the formula ensures it's used as intended, it can also be burdensome and complex to administer. He proposed adding clearer accountability and stronger financial reporting expectations to funds if they are added to the formula. 

Another priority for Wakefield: Expanding opportunities that allow students to explore career options or prepare for college.

Wakefield said only about half of students statewide are enrolled in a career and technical education course. 

At Elko County and Clark County school districts, 75-80 percent or more students are enrolled in rigorous courses such as Advanced Placement, career and technical education and dual enrollment programs that allow students to work on high school and college coursework simultaneously, but other districts including Humboldt, Mineral and Lincoln fall short of this target. 

Wakefield said challenges include a lack of infrastructure and staff to offer these kinds of classes. He also noted that some students don't have room in their schedules for these classes and lack work-based learning opportunities. 

All of this comes as some districts are experiencing budget constraints because of declining student enrollment and state funding not keeping up with the rising costs they face.

Elko County School District Superintendent Clayton Anderson recently announced he's asking the board to pause textbook adoptions for the 2026-27 school year as it looks to cut $15 million from its budget, for example. 

Wakefield, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, didn't directly answer whether he would advocate for increased per-pupil funding during the next legislative session. How that discussion goes could depend on who wins governor and legislative races. 

But he said he's advocating for strong investments in students that are aligned with his department's priorities and ensuring there's a clear plan for the use of those funds. 

Other pillars of his plan revolve around attracting, supporting and retaining strong educators and school leaders and focusing on family engagement. 

"If we can create more aligned and consistent budgeting and strategy and make sure that districts are supported to have a strong strategic plan, then we can see more progress for our students," he said. 

---

News briefs

🏛️ Bipartisan bill in Congress seeks to support young entrepreneurs — Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) reintroduced federal legislation last week that would connect students in after school and summer learning programs with working or retired business owners who can mentor them in entrepreneurship. 

• It comes months after the Trump administration temporarily froze $6 billion in federal funding for those programs and more, including $56 million in Nevada.
• It's the third time that Cortez Masto and Blackburn have tried to get this legislation to the finish line. Their previous attempts came in 2020 and 2023.
• One possible hurdle for the bill is President Donald Trump's threat to not sign any new bills until the SAVE America Act, which adds more requirements for people to register to vote, is passed. 
• "Senator Cortez Masto will continue pushing this vital, bipartisan legislation regardless of President Trump's threats," said Cortez Masto spokeswoman Lea Hohenlohe. "The SAVE America Act is an unworkable bill, and the President's unpopular pet projects will not hold Congress hostage." 

🗳️ Low interest in some northern school board races — Two Washoe County School Board trustees will automatically retain their seats after no opponents filed to run against them. Trustee Colleen Westlake, elected to the board in 2022, and Trustee James Phoenix, appointed to the board in 2025, are the sole candidates in their respective districts, B and C. 

• It's unusual for these seats to be uncontested. During the 2022 primary, there were three candidates running for the District B seat and three candidates running for the District C seat. 
• The District A seat, currently held by Adam Mayberry who is running for Sparks City Council this year, has three candidates this cycle, two less than it did during the 2022 primary. 
• Because Westlake and Phoenix aren't facing any opponents, they each need to win at least one vote during the June primary elections to be considered the winner of their races and can skip the general election, said Washoe County elections department spokesman George Guthrie.
  • If they don't receive one vote, then they would appear on the general election ballot. 
• The Carson City School District is in a similar situation. Races for two of their school board seats, in District 4 and District 6, only have one candidate each, and both are incumbents. And the school board may need to appoint a new trustee to fill its District 3 seat, which got zero candidates.

---

Reading assignments

What to know about applying to Nevada private schools (and how they differ from public schools)

Check out the latest edition of our school choice resource guide, which also includes explainers on open enrollment, magnet and charter schools in Nevada. 

Washoe County superintendent says decision to resign 2 years early was purely personal

The outgoing superintendent said he felt confident he served long enough to help the district make substantial progress and was "leaving the district in a better place."

Extra credit

Las Vegas Review-Journal: CCSD's path to football independence more complex than just Gorman

More than two dozen Clark County School District principals have pulled their football programs out of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association and will play as independents over the next two seasons.

Nevada Current: 'Hurry up, but don't rush:' Lawmakers wrestle with how to handle AI in schools

Lawmakers were encouraged to consider policies that better protect youth's data and privacy information, require training for educators and students alike and ensure tools aid, but don't replace, human interaction.

---

Featured social media post

What an awesome teacher ❤️