2020 Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 387 - Financial Support of School System
NRS 387.12445 - Distribution and use of adjusted base per-pupil funding and weighted funding; separate accounting of certain funds; regulations. [Effective July 1, 2021.]
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, each school district shall ensure that all adjusted base per pupil funding received by the school district pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 2 of NRS 387.1214 is accounted for separately and, after a deduction for the administrative expenses of the school district in an amount which does not exceed the amount prescribed by the Department by regulation for each school district, be distributed and used as described in this subsection. Any money received by a school district to support a necessarily small school, as determined pursuant to NRS 387.1216, must be distributed to such schools. The adjusted base per pupil funding provided to each school district must:
(a) Be distributed by each school district to its public schools in a manner that ensures each pupil in the school district receives a reasonably equal educational opportunity.
(b) Be used to support the educational needs of all pupils in the school district, including, without limitation, operating each public school in the school district, training and supporting educational personnel and carrying out any program or service established by, or requirement imposed pursuant to, this title for any purpose for which specific funding is not appropriated pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (e) of subsection 2 of NRS 387.1214.
2. If a school district determines that an additional amount of money is necessary to satisfy requirements for maintenance of effort or any other requirement under federal law for pupils with disabilities enrolled in the school district, the school district may transfer the necessary amount of money from the adjusted base per pupil funding received by the school district for that purpose.
3. Each school district shall ensure that all weighted funding received by the school district pursuant to paragraph (e) of subsection 2 of NRS 387.1214 is accounted for separately and distributed directly to each school in which the relevant pupils are enrolled.
4. Each public school shall account separately for the adjusted base per pupil funding received by the public school pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 2 of NRS 387.1214 and for each category of weighted funding received by the public school pursuant to paragraph (e) of subsection 2 of NRS 387.1214. Unless the provisions of subsection 7 or 8 impose greater restrictions on the use of weighted funding by a public school, the public school must use the weighted funding received for each relevant pupil:
(a) As a supplement to the adjusted base per pupil funding received for the pupil; and
(b) Solely for the purpose of providing such additional educational programs, services or support as are necessary to ensure the pupil receives a reasonably equal educational opportunity.
5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, the separate accounting required by subsection 4 for pupils with disabilities and gifted and talented pupils must include:
(a) The amount of money provided to the public school for special education; and
(b) The cost of:
(1) Instruction provided by licensed special education teachers and supporting staff;
(2) Related services, including, without limitation, services provided by psychologists, therapists and health-related personnel;
(3) Transportation of the pupils with disabilities and gifted and talented pupils to and from school;
(4) The direct supervision of educational and supporting programs; and
(5) The supplies and equipment needed for providing special education.
6. Money received from federal sources must be accounted for separately and excluded from the accounting required pursuant to subsection 5.
7. A public school that receives weighted funding for one or more at-risk pupils must use that weighted funding only to provide Victory services and, if one or more at-risk pupils for whom the school received weighted funding in the at-risk pupil category also belong to one or more other categories of pupils who receive weighted funding, the additional services for each such at-risk pupil which are appropriate for each category to which the at-risk pupil belongs.
8. A public school that receives weighted funding for one or more pupils who are English learners must use that weighted funding only to provide Zoom services and, if one or more English learners for whom the school received weighted funding in the English learner category also belong to one or more other categories of pupils who receive weighted funding, the additional services for each such English learner which are appropriate for each category to which the English learner belongs.
9. The Department shall adopt regulations prescribing the maximum amount of money that each school district may deduct for its administrative expenses from the adjusted base per pupil funding received by the school district. When adopting such regulations, the Department may express the maximum amount of money that may be deducted as a percentage of the adjusted base per pupil funding received by the school district.
10. As used in this section:
(a) "Victory services" means any one or more of the following services:
(1) A prekindergarten program provided free of charge.
(2) A summer academy or other instruction for pupils provided free of charge at times during the year when school is not in session.
(3) Additional instruction or other learning opportunities provided free of charge at times of day when school is not in session.
(4) Professional development for teachers and other educational personnel concerning instructional practices and strategies that have proven to be an effective means to increase pupil achievement in populations of at-risk pupils.
(5) Incentives for hiring and retaining teachers and other licensed educational personnel who provide Victory services.
(6) Employment of paraprofessionals, other educational personnel and other persons who provide Victory services.
(7) A reading skills center.
(8) Integrated student supports, wrap-around services and evidence-based programs designed to meet the needs of at-risk pupils.
(9) Any other service or program that has a demonstrated record of success for similarly situated pupils in comparable school districts and has been reviewed and approved as a Victory service by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(b) "Zoom services" means any one or more of the following services:
(1) A prekindergarten program provided free of charge.
(2) A reading skills center.
(3) Professional development for teachers and other licensed educational personnel regarding effective instructional practices and strategies for pupils who are English learners.
(4) Incentives for hiring and retaining teachers and other licensed educational personnel who provide Zoom services.
(5) Engagement and involvement with parents and families of pupils who are English learners, including, without limitation, increasing effective, culturally appropriate communication with and outreach to parents and families to support the academic achievement of those pupils.
(6) A summer academy or, for those schools that do not operate on a traditional school calendar, an intersession academy provided free of charge, including, without limitation, the provision of transportation to attend the summer academy or intersession academy.
(7) An extended school day.
(8) Any other service or program that has a demonstrated record of success for similarly situated pupils in comparable school districts and has been reviewed and approved as a Zoom service by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(Added to NRS by 2019, 4201, effective July 1, 2021)
