Democrats and Republicans agree on most things for improving education in the state. The biggest gap, though, is how much those improvements should cost.
With layoffs and understaffing contributing to low teacher morale, Clark County Superintendent Dwight Jones says he thinks teachers have done a laudable job staying focused on children, particularly given the many challenges they face.
One of most contentious issues in this year's legislature is how to reform education in Nevada. A couple of bills that were recently passed in the Assembly would change how teachers are evaluated and will implement a pay for performance plan for teachers. Those bills passed with bi-partisan support, but Gov. Brian Sandoval wants bigger changes to the system including changes to seniority rules and ending social promotion.
One of the governor's biggest bills, which would institute a voucher program in the state, has died in committee but there are other bills he will push for. The governor's plan has been compared to reforms implemented in Florida and Washington D.C.
Well known education activist and former chancellor of D.C. schools Michelle Rhee is also advising the Sandoval administration on education. We'll take a look at the bills the governor is proposing and whether those types of reform have worked in other states.
