Good morning, and welcome to the Indy Education newsletter. I’m Rocio Hernandez, The Nevada Independent’s K-12 education reporter. 

This newsletter provides a recap of the latest education stories and highlights interesting educators, students, programs and other events and resources throughout the state. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter and receive it each week via email.

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

News briefs

📕 Study pods available for check out at Carson High School’s library — Carson High School students looking for a quiet study option can now reserve one of the two soundproof study pods available in the school’s library. The district was able to purchase and install the pods thanks to a $28,000 grant that it received last year from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records.

The district said the school was interested in the pods after hearing feedback from students and faculty, who identified a growing need for quiet study areas amid increasing library traffic. The pods are equipped with ergonomic seating, adjustable lighting and high-speed internet access. 

🍎 Education advocacy groups endorse school board candidates — The state’s two largest teachers unions have made new endorsements in the Clark County School Board races. On Wednesday, the Clark County Education Association endorsed Emily Stevens, the vice president of a credit union, in the District A race. Stevens is also endorsed last week by A Better Choice (ABC) PAC, whose board includes former school board leaders, the Nevada State Education Association and its local affiliate, National Education Association of Southern Nevada (NEA-SN).

Stevens’ opponent, Karl Catarata, announced Friday that the incumbent, Trustee Lisa Guzman, is backing his candidacy. 

Both teachers unions previously endorsed community advocate Tameka Henry in the District C race against the incumbent, Board President Evelyn Garcia Morales, who the ABC PAC is backing. 

NSEA and NEA-SN announced endorsements last month for former educator Eileen Eady in the District B race against former Moms for Liberty local chapter member and Air Force veteran Lydia Dominguez.

School Spotlight

Vegas-based firm focused on ensuring students with disabilities receive proper education

Erica Reynolds remembers how overwhelmed she felt when her son was first diagnosed with Type I diabetes. 

The mother of five said she went to her son’s school to ask what kind of accommodations they could make to help keep him safe.

Reynolds was able to get a so-called “504 plan” for students with a disability that affects their learning for her son. The plan is named after Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act that states that a person with a disability may not be excluded from, denied participation in or be discriminated against by any federally funded program. 

The plan for Reynolds’ son ensures his school allowed him to test his blood sugar, carry snacks with him in class or gave him extra time to take tests when his blood sugar wasn’t within the range it needed to be. 

While her experience working with her son’s school was smooth, Reynolds said that’s not every parent's experience. 

“I did feel like there could be more information out there for people like me,” she said. 

That’s where IEP Defenders steps in. It’s a community division of the Las Vegas-based law firm Lex Tecnica that specializes in helping families navigate the complexities of Individual Education Plans (IEP) and 504 accommodations for children with special needs, and ensuring that students get the educational services they need from their schools.

“The mission of IEP Defenders is to change the educational landscape, to change the world one kid at a time,” said Lex Tecnica Managing Partner Sam Castor. 

Many of the IEP Defender staff members (including Castor and Reynolds) have children with special needs, have a disability themselves or are close to someone with a child with special needs.  

The firm, which started taking cases last August, has served clients in Nevada, Utah, Idaho and Hawaii. The clients’ students attend district, charter and private schools. 

Castor said a majority of the cases involve schools not following a student’s IEP, or a plan for students with certain disabilities that’s required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Those disabilities can include learning disabilities such as dyslexia, developmental delays or a physical impairment such as hearing loss. 

Under federal and state law, schools must provide each student with a disability a free public education, including special education and related services, that meet appropriate standards. 

IEPs are tailored to meet the individual needs of each student. 

In October 2023, there were about 67,000 students statewide who were enrolled in a special education program and were receiving related serves as part of their IEP, 504 plan or an individualized family service plan, which is used for children from birth to age 3 who have a developmental delay or are at risk for a delay.

IEP Defenders offers a free consultation to families of students who are experiencing issues at their schools. Castor said after his team gets involved, cases are typically solved at the school level before having to escalate to a formal hearing or further legal action. 

“It's amazing how quickly people start to act more humble and human and try and fix things when a lawyer shows up,” Castor said. 

Prior to launching IEP Defenders, Castor was part of a 2022 effort to qualify an initiative that would have allowed local municipalities to break away from the Clark County School District on the 2024 ballot. It failed to gather enough valid signatures to qualify. The group behind the initiative, including Castor, is suing the signature gathering firm it worked with for fraud and breach of contract.

Castor said he thinks breaking up the massive district would help prevent students from getting lost in the system.

For now, he said the firm is focused on growing as much as possible. 

“We're just trying to help as many people as we can, and if we can work ourselves out of a job, awesome,” he said. 

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

‘I actually did care;’ Ousted Clark County Schools Trustee on her reluctant resignation

Katie Williams, who recently resigned as a trustee from the Clark County School District, called investigations into her residency, which she maintains is still North Las Vegas, an “unjust political prosecution.” 

Extra Credit

The Hechinger Report: 109 degrees on the first day of school? In some districts, extreme heat is delaying when students go back

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