Education
When the economy and families fail to provide, schools have to step in
When employees at the convenience store a quarter mile away from Robert Taylor Elementary School notice a student shoplifting, they will sometimes call its principal to report the incident. “They call me,” says Kimberly Basham. “Me!” The principal is only feigning shock over the concept of being on gas station speed dial. She welcomes having […]
Nevada should cap charter schools
Twenty-one states have capped the number and growth of charter schools. Nevada should join them. Four years ago, the state spent $254 million on charter schools. This year, according to the director of the State Public Charter School Authority, the state expects to spend more than $340 million. A little more than 28,000 students were enrolled […]
Washoe County superintendent weighs in on class, race and education
Washoe County School District Superintendent Traci Davis knows there are people who wish she would stop talking about equity. But she isn’t going to. “I tend to play the equity card more,” she says. “Some people want to say, ‘Oh, she’s doing it because she’s black.’ No. I’m doing it because it’s right.” Davis is […]
Leaders mum on reasons behind Nevada charter school change
A North Las Vegas charter school is rebranding and ending its relationship with its Arizona-based management company, but the motivation behind the changes is unclear. American Leadership Academy opened the doors of its North Las Vegas campus near Ann Road and 5th Street for the 2017-18 school year. When the new school year begins next […]
Public schools get a mock trial at world’s largest libertarian gathering
Defending public schools at a conference full of free-market enthusiasts is a Herculean task, but Tick Segerblom felt up to the challenge Friday. The Nevada state senator participated in a mock trial where the nation’s public education system was accused of fraud for failing to properly educate and protect students. The event was part of […]
What the bond between public education and private labor looks like
Two days before Southeast Career Technical Academy held its graduation ceremony at Orleans Arena, a much smaller celebration took place in a rec room on the school’s eastside campus. There were inspiring speeches, cupcakes, proud parents… and a $70k electric car. It was a celebration for approximately two dozen students from SECTA, Desert Rose High […]
New report argues Nevada laws aren’t protecting public education
Nevada has found itself near the bottom of another list. A new ‘Grading the States’ report from the Network for Public Education and the Schott Foundation for Public Education measured “commitment to democratically governed schools.” The report took into consideration the types and extent of school privatization, civil rights protections, transparency, accountability and oversight policies. […]
School board reviews gender-diverse policy
After about four hours of public comment and intense debate, the Clark County School District Board of Trustees voted 4-3 to move forward on a proposed policy for gender-diverse students. The trustees are expected to discuss changes to the drafted policy again at an August meeting. “I’m pleased to finally review a draft,” says Laura […]
CCSD begins to scratch surface of its charter school problem
As Clark County School District waits to see the effects of yet another round of budget cuts, it’s an apt time to remember one group not affected: the dozens of local charter schools overseen by other entities and not part of the district. CCSD officials have not been shy about placing some of the blame […]
Second chances: Prison program connects inmates to education
When Natasha Barker entered Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center last year, she dreaded the day of her release because of the unknowns it came with. Concerns about life after incarceration often plague many inmates. “There are all these questions about whether or not we can find a job, if we will re-offend or if we […]