May 13th, 2026

Student Voice & Board Updates

During board member updates, I shared the results of my outreach to districts across Nevada about student representation. I was excited to learn that many districts now have student advisory councils or student representatives on their local school boards, including Clark, Washoe, Nye, Douglas, Carson, Lyon, Mineral, Elko, and White Pine Counties. It was encouraging to see student voice continuing to grow across the state.

The Board also reflected on priorities identified during its retreat, including:

• 3rd grade literacy
• Career & Technical Education (CTE) expansion
• 8th grade math
• Universal free Pre-K

Superintendent’s Report and Recognition

Superintendent Wakefield and Board President Dockweiler recognized me during my final Board meeting and thanked me for representing student voice this year. It has been such an honor to serve you all on the State Board!

The Superintendent also shared updates from across Nevada. Some highlights included:

• Nevada recognized 36 new Purple Star Schools, the most ever in one year.
• Mt. Rose High School and TMCC High School were named Nevada Blue Ribbon Schools.
• Nevada received a high national rating for education pathway readiness, making it one of only four states to receive that recognition.

Superintendent Wakefield also discussed ongoing efforts to improve alignment across Nevada’s education system and continue strengthening support for schools and districts.

Developmental Delay (DD) Age Discussion

One of the biggest topics at the meeting was Nevada’s Developmental Delay (DD) eligibility age for special education services. Nevada currently allows students to qualify under this category until age 6.

Survey results presented to the Board showed overwhelming support from educators and specialists for increasing the age, with many recommending raising it to age 8 or 9. However, the state still lacks enough consistent statewide data to make a final decision.

After discussion, the Board decided to bring the item back in June with multiple possible options before making a final decision.

Read by Grade 3 Updates

The Board reviewed the timeline for implementing Nevada’s Read by Grade 3 law, including future decisions about:

• Reading assessments,
• Passing scores,
• Retention policies for 3rd graders.

Board members felt the timeline seemed long, but staff explained that Nevada still needs more statewide i-Ready data before major decisions can be finalized.

Teacher Evaluation System (NEPF)

The Board approved statewide implementation of the redesigned Nevada Educator Performance Framework (NEPF) beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

Districts participating in the pilot program shared that the updated system:

• Feels more supportive for teachers,
• Focuses more on coaching and growth,
• Creates a more holistic evaluation process.

The redesigned framework will now officially become Nevada’s statewide educator evaluation model.

State Assessment Discussions

The Board also discussed Nevada’s future statewide assessments and the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for selecting them.

Board members emphasized:

• Stronger alignment to Nevada academic standards,
• More flexibility and innovation in testing,
• Including a wider variety of assessment experts in the selection process.

Final decisions on the assessment RFP are expected at the June meeting.

Looking Ahead

Many major topics from this meeting, including Developmental Delay eligibility, Read by Grade 3 decisions, and statewide assessments, will return for additional discussion and action at future Board meetings.

You can find the meeting materials HERE, the agenda HERE, and the video recording HERE. The next meeting will be held on June 24th at 9 AM.