School choice
Numbers game
Where do education-spending ‘rankings’ come from?
Last week Lynn Warne, president of the Nevada State Education Association, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that "the state is last in the nation in per pupil spending, and already has difficulty attracting and retaining enough qualified teachers to fill classrooms at the start of each school year." What source is she using? Any at all?
Progress report
Nevada is beginning to embrace school choice
Could there be education reform in Nevada's future? There is certainly evidence that school choice is now getting a longer look than ever before among Silver State legislators and educators. The past year has seen marked progress for the concept of school choice. Take charter schools, for example.
Blueprint for a bailout
Will CCSD change the rules to benefit its preferred architectural firms?
Is the Clark County School District preparing an economic bailout for its five favorite architectural firms? Known as the district's "prototype" firms, these local companies have long monopolized new school construction in the district. The reason, according to the school district, is that these firms own the "cookie cutter" design templates that the district uses for all new school construction.
Opportunities lost?
Would Harry Reid send his children to D.C. public schools?
On March 10, President Obama gave a major education speech before the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In that speech, he stated clearly: Secretary Duncan will use only one test when deciding what ideas to support with your precious tax dollars: It's not whether an idea is liberal or conservative, but whether it works.
Nevada needs more charter schools
We can improve education and save money at the same time
Contrary to what some in the public education establishment regularly imply, charter schools in Nevada are public schools. Tuition is free and any student may be admitted regardless of race, religion, sex or academic ability.
Spending for spending’s sake
Simply throwing money at education is not the solution
Many believe that increasing per-pupil spending will improve education in Nevada and that Nevada spending per student ranks only 43rd in the nation. These individuals further assume that our public schools' low achievement and ostensibly low spending must be linked.
Failure Is No Longer an Option
Florida’s Decade of Education Improvement Proves Reform Works
Florida has experienced a significant increase in student achievement over the past 10 years, while Nevada's educational performance during that same time has remained relatively flat. Nevada could replicate Florida's success by implementing similar measures.
Saving kids ... AND money
Nevada has much to gain from Corporate Tuition Tax Credits
As the Nevada Legislature convenes in Carson City to discuss how to cover the imaginary budget shortfall—imaginary, in that it's a shortfall between the money projected to come in and the 17 percent increase in spending that politicians want—the fate of taxpayers and businesses hangs in the balance.
What will Horsford and Buckley do?
Tuition tax credits would help Nevada’s low-income and minority children receive a better education
Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford and Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley lead nearly two-thirds of the state's lawmakers. Both have promised to work toward improving education in Nevada—and we can all agree that education in Nevada is seriously in need of improvement. Horsford and Buckley are now primarily responsible for the future educational achievement of Nevada's students.
Choosing to Save
The Fiscal Impact of Education Tax Credits on the State of Nevada
Good ideas save money or improve service. Great ideas save money and improve service. Nevada lawmakers could do both by implementing a large‐scale education tax credit program.
