Education

Teachers union says Jara’s resignation timed to dodge a scandal, calls on board to fire him 

BY: - February 2, 2024

Oh how quickly things can change. Three months ago, Clark County School District released a statement saying its embattled leader, Jesus Jara, would “remain in his position as superintendent as long as the Board of Trustees desires him to do so.” This week, on Wednesday, CCSD announced Jara now seeks to leave his position. He […]

Scholarship program assists undocumented Nevada students 

BY: - January 30, 2024

Nevada college students who are undocumented can apply for TheDream.US national scholarship, the largest scholarship for undocumented people in the U.S. The deadline closes Feb. 29. Last week, Make the Road Nevada, a nonprofit organization that advocates for immigrant and working-class families, partnered with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, (UNLV) and Nevada State University […]

Academica

State Charter School Board approves new school despite pushback from Washoe district

BY: - January 29, 2024

The Nevada State Public Charter School Authority on Friday unanimously approved the massive expansion of a Northern Nevada charter school despite opposition from the Washoe County School District over concerns that its opening may force the closure of existing schools in the area. Mater Academy of Northern Nevada, which currently operates a Reno charter school […]

Commentary
Classroom with students

The winter sale for student enrollments is on now

BY: - January 26, 2024

The tradition of discounted bed linens in January goes back to the 19th century. Deals on many items are offered to shoppers after the holiday season. Similarly, shopping for new schools has also become a winter tradition around the country. Parents are avidly exploring educational choice options for their children. Charter and private schools are […]

Nation’s first Gen Z congressman discusses gun violence at UNLV

BY: - January 24, 2024

Six weeks after the mass shooting that claimed the lives of three UNLV faculty members, a group of students gathered to share their experiences and highlight the need for more federal policy action. “You don’t think it will happen to you until it does,” said Ketzia Jimenez, a third-year UNLV sociology student who was at […]

Teachers union files initiative to ask legislature, voters to legalize strikes for educators

BY: - January 12, 2024

The Clark County Education Association on Thursday filed with the state a petition to change Nevada law and allow teachers to go on strike. Nevada law currently bars all public employees from striking and establishes binding arbitration as the remedy for contract negotiations that have reached an impasse. The union-backed petition would create a carve […]

Commentary

The ones failing the hardest at CCSD are its leaders

BY: - January 2, 2024

I recently took a leave of absence from teaching after a series of reports of workplace bullying, made by myself and colleagues, were not only ignored by our district superiors but dismissed by human resources. I was informed that such behavior is an inherent part of any industry (gossiping, backstabbing, shaming, etc), and it was […]

Looking back (and a little forward): 2023 selections & reflections from the Nevada Current staff

BY: - December 29, 2023

Note: As we do near the end of every year, each writer on the Nevada Current staff took a little time to highlight some of their work from the year, and say whatever they wanted to say about it. An embarrassment of riches. That’s how I’d sum up 2023 for its news value. In case […]

Charter school student equity still lags, but new schools are helping close gaps

BY: - December 27, 2023

Legislation passed in 2019 requiring new charter schools to target historically underserved student groups is seeing an impact, new state enrollment data suggests. One-tenth (10%) of state-authorized charter school students in Nevada are considered English language learners, 10.4% are considered students with disabilities, and 50.9% are considered economically disadvantaged. All three percentages are up from […]

CCSD, teachers union settle contract. But bad blood is still plenty.

BY: - December 21, 2023

It’s nothing short of a Christmas miracle. After months of bitter negotiations, a handful of school closures due to “teacher sickouts,” interventions from elected officials and countless petty public jabs, the Clark County School District and the Clark County Education Association announced Wednesday they reached an agreement on a new two-year contract for the district’s […]

Lawmakers approve $15m in funding for teacher, support staff raises… but not for CCSD

BY: - December 14, 2023

The Nevada Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee on Wednesday deferred a vote to approve $58 million in funding to provide additional raises for Clark County School District’s lowest paid employees, citing the district’s failure to present any plans for raises for licensed educators. Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno, who chairs the Interim Finance Committee, said in order to […]

Underperforming charter schools avoid ‘notices of concern’ as state board opts for leniency

BY: - December 13, 2023

The Nevada State Public Charter School Authority Board last week opted not to issue notices of concern to nearly a dozen underperforming charter schools. It marked a reversal from last month, when SPCSA staff recommended issuing notices of concern to two dozen charter schools that received below average rankings in both the authority’s Academic Performance […]