Nevada Public Education
By Hewan Yoseph
Nevada Public Schools Presentation:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1y-xsaHB6_aW-q7X2YJaaz7Lvmd6WMRxF48hst_GSCfw/edit?usp=sharing
What Inequalities Persist in Nevada Public Schools?
Inequalities ranging from software issues to lower graduation rates for certain demographics plague Nevada public education. However, all of these issues are sourced from the great disparities in funding. The Clark Country School District (CCSD), located in the Las Vegas metro area, is the biggest school district in the entire state of Nevada. Additionally, the school district is one of the largest in the country. Despite being the largest school district in the state, CCSD is plagued with significantly lower test participation rates. In the 2020-21 school year, only 54.1% of CCSD students were able to participate in the Smarter Balanced Assessments. The district with the second-lowest test participation for both the English Language Arts and Math assessments was Nye County. Nye County had participation rates of 84.2% and 86.8% respectively. As CCSD is a drastic outlier compared to other Nevada school districts, one must question why CCSD was not able to participate at such rates. The district’s size and great socioeconomic diversity make it difficult to ensure that all schools have the resources to administer testing. Along with software issues, CCSD’s problems stem from the lack of funding. CCSD has the lowest per-pupil expenditure in the state. Despite having a comparatively higher average household income of $59,340, CCSD spends a mere $8,925 per pupil. In comparison, Esmeralda County School district spends $27,542 per pupil and has an average household income of $37,375. Though CCSD’s expenditure per student is abysmal when compared to other districts, certain districts are capable of spending more per student as their districts are much smaller. While CCSD graduated 20,792 seniors in 2021, Esmeralda county graduated 1 senior.
Though common core was initially adopted to bridge gaps in Nevada education, test scores continue to decline. When compared to the 2018-19 school year, the number of students who demonstrate proficiency in either ELA or Math has decreased significantly in grades 3-8 in the 2020-21 school year. Though the COVID-19 pandemic is a cofounding variable when discussing the difference in testing, COVID has exposed Nevada’s stark differences in resources available to students. Resources such as technology, wifi, and easier access to teachers make the learning process more intuitive. A change in standards doesn’t account for the curriculum decided at the district level or the unique toolset available to each. Steve Canavero, Nevada Deputy Superintendent of Education, stated that “To suddenly suggest that standards are going to do something in absence of everything else is false. “We know that standards are the bedrock of our system, but we know that it comes down to great teaching and great leading.” Before particular inequalities can be addressed, each district must receive equitable funding. Proper funding will allow each district to better serve the diverse range of students who enter its doors.
What is an education-specific trend in Nevada Public Schools?
As the pandemic continues to wage war on the world, American education has faced a variety of complex issues. Along with increased technological needs and social limitations, a labor shortage among teachers has made it difficult to provide students with a comprehensive education. As of February 23, 2022, the number of teacher vacancies in the Clark County School District(CCSD) was 1,270. This is a significant jump when compared to the 777 vacancies in August 2021. Notably, CCSD had an average of 530 teacher vacancies before the pandemic. As CCSD is the largest school district in the state, such vacancies are alarming. The exodus of teachers in Nevada is attributed to a variety of factors. Namely, the inaccessibility of traditional pipelines and issues with retention has resulted in many empty classrooms. Institution barriers such as cost keep certain individuals away from teaching. As such, teaching is kept relatively homogenous in terms of socioeconomic class and race. ““We know people want to be educators,” said Danica Hays, dean of the UNLV College of Education. “A lot of times, it’s about the financial barriers, or not having enough information to access higher education in general.”” As Nevada public schools continue to grow more diverse, educators that are representative of their students are more crucial. The social and emotional aspects of education require educators who can empathize with students, regardless if they’re of the same race. Public education is much more than the transfer of knowledge.
Additionally, retaining teachers has presented as an issue much before the pandemic. The general lack of support for professionals in navigating such a school year has influenced many to leave education. Issues presented by COVID-19 have made it difficult to retain new teachers who were underprepared for a pandemic-influenced school year. The pandemic also catalyzed the “breaking point” for older teachers. As Nevada has one of the lowest average salaries for teachers, there is very little that keeps teachers tied to their careers.
In terms of the greater picture of Nevada public education, teacher vacancies will further exacerbate inequalities. As CCSD is the state’s largest district, the exodus of teachers will force the merging of classrooms. Larger classrooms will limit the one-on-one instruction students receive. Over time, more students will fall through the cracks. This could manifest as lower graduation rates or a decrease in the percentage of students who demonstrate proficiency on standardized tests. Unless changes are made to both promote individuals to become educators and stay in the field, disparities within Nevada public schools will increase. Gaps between Nevada public schools and public schools across the country will grow exponentially.