The New Nevada Education Funding Plan ($34,178,400.00 to Clark County School District) provides funding allocations to over 28,000 students attending 102 CCSD schools to specifically serve the needs of identified students who rank in the lowest 25% proficiency rates in Nevada. Nevada Department of Education (NDE) shall provide an additional per pupil amount of $1,200 to serve identified students. You can find a complete list of allocated funds and school designations (SB178, Victory, or ZOOM) at www.CCBlackCaucus.com. For example, this year the following schools will receive additional funds based on number of students identified and are on free and reduced lunch or ELL:
Cheyenne HS** - $433,000 = 433 Students Canyon Springs HS** - 723,600.00 = 723 Students
Legacy HS*** - $454,000 = 382 Students Mojave HS** - $566,400.00 = 472 Students
Johnston MS*** - $ 499,200.00 = 416 Students One Hundred Academy ES* - $ 150,000.00 = 125 Students
The good news is within Clark County School District every one star and two star schools are now served by either Victory, Zoom, or SB 178 funding. In the three star school range 53 schools were funded which collectively covers approximately 58% of all eligible students in three star schools. While many Black students are doing well and either meet or exceed academic standards, a disproportionate large percentage do not meet grade level proficiencies. In fact, Black students have the highest percentage of students by race and ethnicity in that category. Unfortunately, a crisis not often addressed in Nevada media or policy tables.
All SB178 funding must be held in a separate account and not co-mingled with other funds. It’s important (especially during CCSD budget crisis) that parents/guardians, students, and school administrators use SB178 dollars only as specified in the law. NDE explains that schools risk future funding if they don’t meet the benchmarks they’ve put in place or direct funds elsewhere than specifically serving the needs of students identified with the allocation of funds. Funds can be used as follows:
- Extended learning opportunities
- Academic interventions
- Early childhood education
- Any other strategy designed by the public school and approved by the Department
- Parent and family engagement programs or services
- School climate and culture programs
- Social, psychological, or health care services to pupils and their families
- Academic Interventions
- Professional Development
- Reimbursement for coursework required to obtain endorsement relating to English language acquisition and development
- Retention Incentives
Yvette Williams is a community advocate and Chair/Founder of the Clark County Black Caucus, a non-partisan community organization driven 100% by volunteer members registered to vote. Follow her on twitter @YvetteBWilliams or contact her at ClarkCountyBlackCaucus@gmail.com for more information.