What Many Got Really Wrong about Nevada's K-12 Audit

What can the newly formed Legislative Subcommittee on Education Accountability learn from the most recent K-12 audit?

With the first meeting of the Legislative Subcommittee on Education Accountability fast approaching, understanding the recent K-12 audit is critical. Several weeks ago the Nevada Independent published a story about an education audit titled, '"Disturbing:’ Leaders question Nevada K-12 budget expansion after critical audit.” 

For years the community has been asking for an audit of the education system, and now we have one. The Governor’s audit itself was largely unremarkable, but the article’s headline and subsequent social media commentary painted a picture of an audit that disclosed concerning data and concluded investments in education do not matter. Perhaps those commenting did not bother to read the audit itself, and instead indulged in the grandstanding by certain elected officials that consistently scoff at the idea of adequately funding Nevada schools. Nonetheless, as an advocate for increased public education funding, we found the audit's conclusions not only unsurprising, but mirroring what many, like myself, have been saying for years. In fact, the Commission on School Funding made up of finance experts discussed the public reaction to this audit with the same surprise and concern as we did, committing to write a memo to explain why the audit actually created a pathway for how to apply increased funds, NOT a case against it.Read More

First, the audit concluded that funding alone will not fix education. In comparing funding and achievement results in Clark County to three other similar districts, the report found that some lower spending and higher spending districts had higher achievement than CCSD, and vice versa. It stated, “These results evidence the amount of funding spent is not the only factor affecting student achievement levels. […] Many factors impact student achievement, and it is both the challenge and reward of professional educators to identify what works best for each student. Money, and how it is spent to meet the needs of the students, matters. This is, of course, obvious.Years of rigorous research on education funding have come to this conclusion, and this body of work can inform Nevada on how to invest its historic increase in funding.

So what can the state do to get more bang for its buck, according to multiple studies? Additional resources should target economically disadvantaged students and students of color; expand high quality Pre-K options; support access to quality, experienced, and consistent educators; and aid social and emotional supports, restorative practices and wraparound services. There were other important findings of the audit. The audit suggested funding a more robust Nevada Department of Education (NDE), including increased staffing and other supports. In order to ensure the new investments are used effectively, NDE should be capable of more than just monitoring and compliance. It should have the ability to gather and analyze data. It should have education-experts on staff and the ability to offer support and guidance to districts and schools. The audit found a 1:2,729 ratio of NDE staff to students. Compare this to another western state, New Mexico, with a ratio of 1:943. Transparency, accountability, and data-driven decisions require adequate state-level support. The audit also noted the unacceptably high student to teacher ratios in Nevada, particularly in Washoe and Clark. It affirmed that “class sizes matter for both teachers and students.” State and local decision makers must work to solve this crisis. Auditors also found Nevada’s accountability structure “mostly sufficient,” though it urged the various accountability efforts and initiatives to work together and in uniform. It cited the work of the Commission on School Funding, the Interim Committee on Education Accountability, among other oversight bodies and existing laws as positive steps for the state. The audit made suggestions in other areas, including improvements in support specialist training, access to literacy specialists, rigorous data gathering and data-driven decision-making, food service delivery and eligibility, among others - mostly things that cost money. In general, the audit offered several ways Nevada can be more efficient and effective in overseeing and implementing its public education system. Many seem to overlook that auditors did not find widespread abuse of dollars, fraud, or other severe issues. 

Was the audit itself perfect? No. We have concerns that the funding and achievement comparisons focused on only three other “similar” districts, rather than offering comparisons with the nation’s highest achieving districts. The audit also fails to acknowledge years of studies in Nevada that have found the state simply is not providing the funding necessary for students to meet state academic standards. The audit also lacked thorough recommendations on targeting funding to our most vulnerable students, an issue that has become increasingly important as the state moves to drastically reduce eligibility for “at-risk” student funding. In fact, it does not appear to draw on many well-established, best practices in education as it relates to investing funds. 

Nonetheless, the audit is a resource for how to improve schools and invest the recent 25% increase in K-12 funding. Despite bizarre claims by those opposed to adequately funding schools, the audit is in no way a rebuke of that new investment. In fact, the additional funds had not even reached schools when the audit began. We know results will take time, but the state took a positive step in funding our schools. This examination of the system is another positive step. We are excited to see what is to come. 

The Rogers Foundation Celebrates A Nine Year Promise Come True

Nine years ago, The Rogers Foundation kicked off with the foundation's first ever scholarship announcement. Showing up to Ms.Vuich’s third-grade class at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School in 2015, Beverly Rogers promised all 25 students a full scholarship to any in-state college when they graduated. Now seniors, the students were finally able to benefit from the surprise announcement during a banquet event with their families at The Beverly Theater. 

Read the story in the LVRJ here. 

The students in attendance were then presented with full-ride tuition plus books scholarships to any in-state institution of higher learning, including trade schools.

14 additional scholarships were awarded at the event to other CCSD seniors ranging from $20,000 to $100,00. 

"The scholarships pay tribute to my late husband, Jim, whose unwavering dedication to education remains unmatched. He would be immensely proud of these students," expressed Beverly Rogers, Chairman of the Board of The Rogers Foundation. "Witnessing the joy on the faces of these deserving recipients fills us with immense satisfaction. We eagerly anticipate hearing about their college journeys. These young individuals are our future leaders, and we are confident in their abilities."

Congratulations to ALL the scholarship recipients!

Seniors who were promised a scholarship as third graders at Reynaldo Elementary Schools were awarded their scholarships nine years later as seniors during an event at The Beverly Theatre in Downtown Las Vegas. They are posing on stage in front of the picture that was taken of them in 2015 when The Rogers Foundation promised them scholarships.