Nevada schools set achievement goals for English learners

Principals consult a district administrator who supports English learners when preparing and reviewing school achievement plans. These planning rules cover each public school, including charter schools. The added main goal and specific goals apply only when at least 10 percent of pupils are English learners. If at least 10 percent of a school's pupils are English learners, closing any achievement gap between them and English-proficient pupils must be the plan's main goal. Those plans must set attainable goals for newcomer, short-term, and long-term English learners, with timelines, and list steps to improve their achievement. Principals review plans each year and revise them as needed.

School districts ensure their licensed teachers receive training on how people learn English. The training requirement applies to licensed teachers employed by each school district. The Department provides districts with guidance about the required training. Teachers must submit proof on or before October 1, 2030; it is required for continued employment after that date.

The state separates English learner data into groups and bars newcomer achievement data from lowering certain performance ratings. The state separates English learner data in the statewide public school accountability system. The rating protection covers newcomer achievement data held by the school, district, or both. The groups are newcomers, short-term English learners, and long-term English learners, as designated by State Board regulation. The rating protection applies to achievement data about pupils designated as newcomers under State Board regulation.

A newcomer may remain in high school for a limited time beyond the expected graduation date. This applies to pupils designated as newcomers to the English language who attend high school. A newcomer is a pupil designated as a newcomer to the English language by State Board regulation. The pupil may remain only until the first of the two limits is reached. The limit runs from the date the pupil was otherwise scheduled to graduate and ends at 10 semesters or age 21, whichever comes first.

The Department establishes an advisory council to study English learning policies and report to lawmakers. The Department establishes the council during the 2025–2026 legislative interim to study support for English learning, language development, and literacy. The council may request drafting of no more than one related legislative measure, which must be prefiled by the first day of the 2027 regular session. The council is established during the 2025–2026 interim. Its report is due by October 31, 2026.