Nevada’s Assembly passes a major bipartisan education reform bill reshaping school accountability, teacher recruitment, early childhood access, and student transfers statewide.
CARSON CITY — Nevada lawmakers have passed one of the most sweeping education reform measures in the state’s recent history. Senate Bill 460 (SB 460), a bipartisan proposal that rethinks how schools are evaluated, supported, and held accountable, cleared the state Assembly on June 2 with a 38–4 vote. It now heads back to the Senate for final approval before it can be signed into law by Governor Joe Lombardo.
The measure, forged through negotiations between Republican Governor Lombardo and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, seeks to address longstanding issues in the public school system, including persistent low rankings, struggling schools, and a severe shortage of qualified teachers.
A NEW ERA OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Under SB 460, Nevada will establish a statewide school accountability system that evaluates both individual schools and entire districts. Schools that consistently perform poorly will face potential state intervention. This could include leadership changes, targeted support, or, in some cases, state management. A new five-member Public School Oversight Board will be created to oversee these decisions and ensure that actions taken are effective and transparent.
OPEN ENROLLMENT AND TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT
The bill opens up a statewide open enrollment policy, giving students the ability to transfer out of failing schools to better-performing ones, regardless of geographic boundaries. To support this, the state is allocating $7 million in transportation funding to help students reach new schools if needed.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO EARLY EDUCATION
SB 460 significantly expands access to state-funded pre-kindergarten programs, raising the eligibility limit from 200% to 250% of the federal poverty level. This means more working families will qualify for free or subsidized early childhood education, which studies show can improve long-term academic outcomes.
BOOSTING THE TEACHER WORKFORCE
Addressing a statewide teacher shortage, particularly in urban areas like Clark County, the bill creates a Commission on Recruitment and Retention to recommend strategies for hiring and keeping educators. It also launches a Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program and introduces new salary incentive programs aimed at retaining experienced teachers and attracting newcomers to the profession.
CENTRALIZED SUPPORT FOR DISTRICTS
A new state agency, the Education Service Center, will provide operational and instructional support to school districts. This agency will serve as a bridge between the Department of Education and local schools, helping to coordinate resources, training, and administrative needs.
FOCUS ON LITERACY
To improve student reading levels, the bill includes a stronger emphasis on early literacy. Schools will implement phonics-based instruction in grades K-3, and a new STEM-literacy pilot program will be introduced to integrate science and math into reading curriculum.
CONCERNS AND CRITICISMS
While the legislation received broad support, some educators and lawmakers voiced concerns about the risk of overreach. Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch, a former teacher, questioned whether state takeovers of schools would be effective or fair. “There’s no clear evidence that state-managed schools perform better,” La Rue Hatch said, warning the policy could strip local communities of authority without necessarily improving results. The Nevada State Education Association (NSEA) has also raised red flags, noting that accountability measures—though well-intentioned—could disproportionately affect schools in high-poverty areas that already face systemic disadvantages.
MOVING TOWARD ENACTMENT
Because the Assembly approved the bill with amendments, SB 460 must now return to the Senate for concurrence. If senators agree to the revised language, the bill will proceed to Governor Lombardo’s desk for signature. If not, the Assembly may need to revise or rescind the amendments to reach final approval.
Despite this procedural step, the momentum behind the bill is strong. Lawmakers from both parties have emphasized the urgency of acting on education reform, and Governor Lombardo has publicly signaled his support. If signed into law, implementation could begin as early as the 2025–2026 school year, setting the stage for transformative change across Nevada’s public education system.
