- 82nd Session (2023)
Senate Bill No. 291–Senators Cannizzaro, Dondero Loop, Lange,
Flores, Neal; Daly, Donate, D. Harris, Nguyen, Ohrenschall,
Pazina, Scheible and Spearman
CHAPTER..........
AN ACT relating to education; revising requirements for certain
student teachers to be employed as a substitute teacher for a
school district; making an appropriation to the Department of
Education for the Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator
Preparation; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law authorizes a school district to enter into an agreement with the
Nevada System of Higher Education or certain accredited postsecondary
educational institutions to provide for the assignment of students for training
purposes as a student teacher. These student teachers are authorized, under the
direction and supervision of a licensed teacher, to instruct and supervise pupils in
the school, on school grounds and on authorized field trips. (NRS 391.095)
Existing law also provides that, before assigning a long-term substitute who is
not a licensed teacher to fill a teaching position, the board of trustees of a school
district that has entered into an agreement concerning student teachers is required to
select a student teacher who has: (1) completed at least 4 weeks of student teaching;
and (2) applied to the board of trustees for employment as a substitute teacher by
submitting an application that includes the written approval of the teacher who
supervises the student teacher through his or her educational institution and the
teacher who supervises the student teacher in the classroom. If a student teacher is
employed as a substitute teacher by the school district, the student teacher: (1) is
entitled to the rate of pay otherwise payable to a substitute teacher employed by the
school district for each day the student works as a substitute teacher; (2) must be
assigned to teach in the subject area and grade level, as applicable, in which the
student teacher is completing his or her student teaching; and (3) must be
supervised by a licensed teacher who must be available to assist and observe the
student teacher on a periodic basis and oversee the management of the classroom
and instructional duties.
Section 1 of this bill removes the requirement that, to qualify for employment
as a substitute teacher, a student teacher must have completed at least 4 weeks of
student teaching in a school district.
Existing law authorizes a college or university within the Nevada System of
Higher Education to apply to the State Board of Education for a grant of money to
establish the Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation and
establishes certain requirements for the Institute. Existing law requires the Nevada
Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation, which has been established at the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to: (1) establish a highly selective program for
the education and training of teachers; (2) conduct research concerning approaches
and methods used to educate and train teachers and to teach pupils; and (3)
evaluate, develop and disseminate approaches to teaching. (NRS 396.5185) Section
2 of this bill makes an appropriation to the Department of Education for the Nevada
Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. NRS 391.096 is hereby amended to read as follows:
391.096 1. A board of trustees of a school district that has
entered into an agreement pursuant to NRS 391.095 shall, before
assigning a long-term substitute who is not a licensed teacher, assign
a student teacher who [satisfies the requirements of subsection 2] is
employed by the school district as a substitute teacher [.] pursuant
to this section.
2. A student teacher [who has completed not less than 4 weeks
of student teaching in a school district pursuant to NRS 391.095]
may apply to the board of trustees of [that] a school district for
employment as a substitute teacher. The application must include
the written approval of:
(a) The teacher who supervises the student teacher through the
Nevada System of Higher Education or accredited postsecondary
educational institution, as applicable; and
(b) The teacher who is responsible for supervising the student
teacher in the classroom.
3. If a school district employs a student teacher as a substitute
teacher pursuant to this section, the school district shall ensure that
the student teacher is:
(a) Assigned to teach in the subject area and grade level, as
applicable, in which the student teacher is completing his or her
student teaching.
(b) Supervised by a licensed teacher. A licensed teacher so
assigned must:
(1) Be available to assist the student teacher and observe the
student teacher on a periodic basis; and
(2) Oversee the management of the classroom, instructional
duties and administrative duties of the student teacher.
4. A student teacher who is employed as a substitute teacher
pursuant to this section is entitled to the rate of pay otherwise
payable to substitute teachers employed by the school district for
each day the student teacher works as a substitute teacher. Nothing
in this section entitles a student teacher who is not employed as a
substitute teacher to be paid for time spent completing his or her
student teaching, including, without limitation, time spent
completing course work and assignments required for completion of
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a program of study offered by the Nevada System of Higher
Education or an accredited postsecondary educational institution.
5. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the board of
trustees of a school district that employs a student teacher as a
substitute teacher pursuant to this section shall, in consultation with
the employee organization representing licensed teachers in the
school district, provide for compensation of the licensed teacher
who supervises the student teacher pursuant to subsection 3 that is in
addition to the regular salary of the licensed teacher. The board of
trustees is not required to provide additional compensation to:
(a) A licensed teacher who is employed by the school district for
the primary purpose of supervising student teachers and who is not
otherwise employed for the purpose of providing classroom
instruction to pupils; or
(b) A licensed teacher who receives compensation from the
Nevada System of Higher Education or an accredited postsecondary
educational institution for supervising student teachers.
6. As used in this section, “student teacher” means a student of
a branch of the Nevada System of Higher Education or an accredited
postsecondary educational institution who is assigned to teach for
training purposes pursuant to NRS 391.095.
Sec. 2. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the State
General Fund to the Department of Education for the Nevada
Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation established pursuant
to NRS 396.5185 the sum of $1,575,000.
2. In making an expenditure from the money appropriated by
subsection 1, the Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator
Preparation may expend not more than $75,000 for administrative
expenses.
3. The Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation
shall:
(a) Prepare and transmit a report to the Interim Finance
Committee on or before December 20, 2024, that describes each
expenditure made from the money appropriated by subsection 1
from the date on which the money was received by the Institute
through December 1, 2024; and
(b) Prepare and transmit a final report to the Interim Finance
Committee on or before October 1, 2025, that describes each
expenditure made from the money appropriated by subsection 1
from the date on which the money was received by the Institute
through June 30, 2025.
4. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by
subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30,
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2025, by the entity to which the appropriation is made or any entity
to which money from the appropriation is granted or otherwise
transferred in any manner, and any portion of the appropriated
money remaining must not be spent for any purpose after
September 19, 2025, by either the entity to which the money was
appropriated or the entity to which the money was subsequently
granted or transferred, and must be reverted to the State General
Fund on or before September 19, 2025.
Sec. 3. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.
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