January 14th, 2026

Public Comment

During public comment, one speaker emphasized the issue of chronic absenteeism and urged the Board to make school attendance mandatory, stating that graduation rates are “meaningless” if students don’t actually attend school. Nevada was also called out for ranking low in national academic surveys.

Superintendent’s Report: A Focus on Alignment and Action

Superintendent Wakefield shared an update on his continued “Listening and Bright Spots” tour, where he’s gathering insight from communities around the state. He emphasized Nevada Department of Education (NDE) priorities, particularly around implementing SB460, aimed at improving education through:

• Better early literacy outcomes
  
  
• Modernizing Nevada’s educator workforce
  
  
• Strengthening accountability
  
  
• Increasing district-level support
  

He previewed upcoming policy work, including regulatory workshops and public hearings throughout the spring, and also shared that the state is building tools and infrastructure to help schools make real improvements that last.

Consent Agenda

After some clarification and edits, particularly around the meeting minutes (Item B), the consent agenda was approved. This included licensing renewals for private schools and subcommittee meeting minutes.

What We Learned from the Superintendent’s Listening Tour Survey

The Superintendent shared survey results reflecting feedback from students, educators, and board members. Key takeaways:

• Academic Foundations: Access to high-quality education is uneven, especially for English learners, students with disabilities, and students in rural areas.
  
  
• College & Career Readiness: Opportunities are inconsistent. Some students benefit from great CTE programs, while others don’t have access.
  
  
• Educator Support: Workloads are high, new educators feel underprepared, and trust between teachers and systems has eroded.
  
  
• Family Engagement: Communication varies widely. Engagement tends to focus on rules and compliance instead of learning.
  
  
• Data and Funding: Major gaps in alignment, equity, and data systems make it hard to measure what’s working and what’s not.
  
  

Chronic Absenteeism and MTSS

The Board reviewed current chronic absenteeism data and how Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) are helping. Key points:

• Nevada ranks 12th highest in student absences nationwide.
  
  
• Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days.
  
  
• Major causes include transportation, health, and lack of engagement.
  
  

Schools using MTSS (a framework of layered academic and social supports) are seeing better attendance results. Washoe County, for example, estimates reclaiming 15,000+ instruction days for every 1% drop in absenteeism.

Bright Spot: Hug High School’s in-school Family Resource Center is helping families stay supported and engaged.

Graduation Rates & Postsecondary Preparation

Nevada’s graduation rate rose to 85.4% for the Class of 2025, marking the eighth straight year of awarding over 30,000 diplomas. However, graduation doesn’t guarantee post-high school readiness.

The Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) and Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) shared efforts to track outcomes and strengthen college and career pathways. Their dashboards and workforce data tools aim to help improve how we prepare students.

A powerful public comment from a parent of five highlighted how students with disabilities often don’t get equal access to college and career support, even when their grades match their peers. The Board was urged to ensure that graduation is just the beginning, not the end, of student support.

What’s Next?

Future agenda item requests included:

• Understanding how students experience different school systems (district, charter, etc.)
  
  
• AI and durable skills: How students are being prepared for the changing world
  
  
• Expanding college/career readiness conversations, especially for students with disabilities
  
  

You can find the meeting materials HERE, the agenda HERE, and the video recording HERE. The next meeting will be held on March 11th at 9 AM.