The number of bills proposed that could impact Washoe County School District grew exponentially Monday of this week as it was the last day for legislators to introduce their final language on how to change the law. While many of those bills could outline changes to the educational system, many are much more broad based, but would include our district. We follow many issues that may seem unrelated to education, but indirectly impact the district in other ways. Examples of these areas include child welfare, employment practices, contracts and purchasing, nutrition, social services, and transportation. So in the midst of trying to address all the educational needs we have around our own platform of early childhood, family engagement, college readiness, etc., we are actively participating in conversations on issues to reduce barriers and ensure that we don’t waste resources on unnecessary or onerous requirements operationally.
By the numbers
Bills we are tracking: 150
Days left in session 74
Friday, March 22, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Alphabet Soup – TLC, RPDP, STEM. Huh??
Alphabet Soup – TLC, RPDP, STEM. Huh??
Even for educators familiar with the lexicon, the acronyms in this world can be overwhelming. Everywhere I turn there is another acronym that needs explaining. This week at the legislature is no exception.
Yesterday, legislators received information from the Teachers and Leaders Council (TLC) that is creating the system for future teacher and administrator evaluations.
And, they heard an overview of the Regional Professional Development Program (RPDP) that deliver professional development to many of our teachers.
Tomorrow, the Senate Education committee will hear from a statewide panel of experts on the value of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs being implemented across the state, including here in Washoe County.
I anticipate there will be hearings about CCSS, SDLS, and the SPF in the near future. Stay tuned to find out about those exciting acronyms.
I’m sure there is a dictionary somewhere that has all the acronyms defined, and if you have it, please send it my way. Until then, I’ll be decoding them through the legislative process.
Even for educators familiar with the lexicon, the acronyms in this world can be overwhelming. Everywhere I turn there is another acronym that needs explaining. This week at the legislature is no exception.
Yesterday, legislators received information from the Teachers and Leaders Council (TLC) that is creating the system for future teacher and administrator evaluations.
And, they heard an overview of the Regional Professional Development Program (RPDP) that deliver professional development to many of our teachers.
Tomorrow, the Senate Education committee will hear from a statewide panel of experts on the value of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs being implemented across the state, including here in Washoe County.
I anticipate there will be hearings about CCSS, SDLS, and the SPF in the near future. Stay tuned to find out about those exciting acronyms.
I’m sure there is a dictionary somewhere that has all the acronyms defined, and if you have it, please send it my way. Until then, I’ll be decoding them through the legislative process.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Education Week Wraps Up
Education Week Wraps Up
It was an exciting, but exhausting week for education advocates. We had hearings go well in to the evening on Monday and Wednesday in joint education hearings. Policy issues were heard and elicited significant public response around expansion of full-day kindergarten, expanding pre-K for our most at-risk students, limiting the practice of social promotion, and tightening and better reporting around class size reduction. Additionally, the first hearing on the district’s main budget, the Distributed School Account (DSA), was heard in a joint meeting of Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means.
There was a healthy amount of debate about the positive impacts and potential unintended consequences of all these issues, but one thing was clear – everyone wants to improve student achievement. That is a good sign.
Next week we will tackle additional education policy issues. There will be a presentation about the Teachers and Leaders Council as well as the Regional Professional Development Program (RPDP). WCSD is participating in all these discussions and representing the values of our board platform. There will also be a presentation about the increasing emphasis of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs.
There will also be a widely publicized hearing about what’s been deemed The Education Initiative (TEI) – an initiative petition largely facilitated by the Nevada State Teachers Association (NSEA). This initiative petition calls for a 2% margins tax on businesses generating over $1 million in revenue, and the money generated from this tax is intended to be added to the education budget in our state.
I’m already looking forward to updating you next week on the highlights of these discussions. Thanks for following this discussion. While Carson City may seem eons away, many of these decisions will ultimately impact the school and classroom level. Get engaged and take this biennial opportunity to have your voice heard by your legislators. Don’t know who they are? Find out here!
It was an exciting, but exhausting week for education advocates. We had hearings go well in to the evening on Monday and Wednesday in joint education hearings. Policy issues were heard and elicited significant public response around expansion of full-day kindergarten, expanding pre-K for our most at-risk students, limiting the practice of social promotion, and tightening and better reporting around class size reduction. Additionally, the first hearing on the district’s main budget, the Distributed School Account (DSA), was heard in a joint meeting of Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means.
There was a healthy amount of debate about the positive impacts and potential unintended consequences of all these issues, but one thing was clear – everyone wants to improve student achievement. That is a good sign.
Next week we will tackle additional education policy issues. There will be a presentation about the Teachers and Leaders Council as well as the Regional Professional Development Program (RPDP). WCSD is participating in all these discussions and representing the values of our board platform. There will also be a presentation about the increasing emphasis of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs.
There will also be a widely publicized hearing about what’s been deemed The Education Initiative (TEI) – an initiative petition largely facilitated by the Nevada State Teachers Association (NSEA). This initiative petition calls for a 2% margins tax on businesses generating over $1 million in revenue, and the money generated from this tax is intended to be added to the education budget in our state.
I’m already looking forward to updating you next week on the highlights of these discussions. Thanks for following this discussion. While Carson City may seem eons away, many of these decisions will ultimately impact the school and classroom level. Get engaged and take this biennial opportunity to have your voice heard by your legislators. Don’t know who they are? Find out here!
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