Press Release: EDUCATE Act Charts a Bold Path Forward for Nevada Schools

Senate Majority Leader Cannizzaro’s Comprehensive Legislation Expands Oversight, Elevates Early Education, and Strengthens Accountability 

Carson City, NV — As the 83rd Legislative Session nears its conclusion, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro has introduced SB460 — the EDUCATE Act — a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at transforming Nevada’s public education system with long-overdue oversight and a strong focus on student outcomes.

“This bill touches on so many aspects that are necessary to the academic success of our students, and it prioritizes our public schools at a time when they are under constant attack — even as they remain the only option that serves all students, regardless of circumstance or background,” said Amanda Morgan, Executive Director of Educate Nevada Now. “These are the efforts worth supporting if we want to see Nevada students succeed.”

Key Components of the EDUCATE Act:

Oversight and Improvement for School Districts: This bill will set minimum professional standards for school superintendents and chief financial officers, and grant voting rights to appointed members of the Clark County School District Board of Trustees. The bill also creates a statewide oversight board tasked with monitoring district performance and intervening when necessary. 

Private School Voucher Accountability: The bill increases accountability for the Opportunity Scholarship voucher program, requiring participating private schools to administer and report standardized test scores and key demographic data — ensuring that public dollars used for private education meet the same academic and transparency standards as public schools.“Since its inception, the Opportunity Scholarship program has significantly lacked transparency and accountability, skirting reporting laws outlined for this program. If public funds are being used, the public deserves to know how those schools are performing and whether students are succeeding,” added Morgan.

Funding and Resource Accountability Audit: The bill does what so many attempts at accountability fail to do; it takes a deep look at the critical link between funding and student outcomes - the resources and services in the classroom. The audit will assess how resources are allocated, what barriers schools face in delivering essential services, and whether current investments truly support student success.

Charter School Alignment: SB460 ensures charter schools provide financial and academic performance reports similar to those required of traditional public schools, along with developing a 5-year initiative to support all charter school teachers to be licensed in the state. With charter school enrollment now rivaling that of the state’s second-largest school district, consistent standards are more important than ever.

Expanding Early Childhood Education Access: At a time when federal support for programs like Head Start are under threat, SB460 significantly expands access to high-quality, evidence-based early learning programs. Nevada has long ranked near the bottom in pre-K access, despite overwhelming evidence that early education reduces achievement gaps and boosts long-term outcomes.

Focus on Academic Achievement and Teacher Support: The bill enforces class size standards, strengthens school academic planning, and ensures that teacher training is aligned with instructional goals to improve learning outcomes across the state. It also promotes access to school counselors to better support students. 

Concerns and Areas for Improvement:

Leaving Many At-Risk Students Behind: This bill fails to follow the Commission on School Funding's formal recommendation to remove the arbitrary “bottom quintile” limitation for eligibility for at-risk resources. Thousands of vulnerable students, including many low-income, unhoused, and academically struggling students, will remain ineligible for at-risk weighted funding. 

“A funding formula should reflect real student need, not arbitrary cutoffs,” Morgan said. “Even if fully funding all vulnerable students is not possible this session, clinging to this flawed system ensures thousands of students will continue to be left behind.”

Lack of Action on Education Funding Recommendations: Despite the looming financial uncertainty, ultimately, real improvement will only come with continued investments in public education. The Commission on School Funding provided detailed recommendations on how to reach adequate funding and lift Nevada out of its near last place standing in school funding. Lawmakers made significant progress last session, but our state must continue to push forward and implement revenue solutions.“We have a team of volunteer experts who have devoted years to developing a plan for sustainable school funding,” Morgan stated. “If we are serious about improving education in Nevada, we must act on those recommendations at some point.”

“We look forward to improving and supporting this bill, and we thank Majority Leader Cannizzaro, the other bill lead sponsors Senator Marilyn Dondero Loop and Julie Pazina, along with the ten other co-sponsors, for their hard work and commitment to Nevada students,” added Morgan. 

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