The Ed-Watch series is designed to increase access to information on what decisions
are being made regarding public education in Clark County and Nevada.
Nevada State Board of Education
What is the State Board of Education & what are they responsible for? The Nevada State Board of Education adopts regulations based on Nevada laws, which are passed down to individual school districts in Nevada to implement. The Board has 11 total (7 appointed and 4 publicly elected) members.
How often does the State Board meet? The Nevada State Board of Education meets once per month on Wednesdays at 9:00 AM. Click here to see the 2026 meeting materials.
Can community members engage at State Board Meetings? A time for public comment is provided at the beginning (for agenda items) and at the conclusion (on any matter) of each Board meeting. Members of the public may provide public comment in writing via email; public comment will be accepted via email for the duration of the meeting and shared with the State Board of Education during the public comment periods. Public comment may be emailed to NVBoardED@doe.nv.gov.
Click here for a list of all State Board Members.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Nevada State Board of Education
Click here to see the regular SBOE meeting agenda.
Click here to watch the meeting playback.
What happened at the regular meeting?
Public Comment #1
Public comment was heard on the following subjects:
- Chronic absenteeism and graduation rates
President's Report
Highlights included:
- The NRS388G Subcommittee heard an update on Senate Bill 460, its implementation, and next steps for the regulatory process.
Superintendent's Report
Highlights included:
- Progress on the Superintendent's first 100 days, including the Listening and Bright Spots Tour
- In March, the Superintendent will present a highlight of Department-wide priorities
- An overview of SB 460 and implementation steps, including appropriations
- An overview of the next metrics subcommittee, including a new survey open until January 23
Board Heard an Update on the Superintendent's Listening Tour Survey
Superintendent Wakefield presented his Listening & Bright Spots Tour Survey for Board review and input, led by guiding questions around academic foundations, college and career success, excellent and empowered educators, informed and engaged families, aligned and coherent systems, and Department role.
Themes included:
- Strong Academic Foundations: Strong practices exist, but are not systemically scaled; uneven access to high-quality instruction; persistent achievement gaps concerns about curriculum.
- College, Career & Life Success: Limited real-world learning opportunities; uneven access to career pathways; need for stronger partnerships; data and systems constraints; encouraging progress alongside challenges
- Excellent & Empowered Educators: Unsustainable workloads and limited capacity; ongoing retention and recruitment challenges; erosion of empowerment and trust; concerns about teacher preparation; administrative and classroom pressure
- Informed & Engaged Families: Inconsistent family engagement; unclear or inaccessible communication; engagement centers on compliance rather than learning; effective practices are localized, not scaled; and opportunity for stronger systems-level support
- Aligned & Coherent Systems: Misalignment across systems limits impact; concerns about funding adequacy and equity; fragmented data systems; need for continuous improvement and accountability; progress underway with continued advocacy needed
Board members discussed the role of the Department, the need for continued feedback and how to ensure systems are scaled and services are delivered equitably, the need for a shared vision for the department, enrollment and funding challenges, access and equity for different geographies ni the state, mental health, and approaches on how to best serve students.
Explore the presentation.
Board Heard an Update on Chronic Absenteeism, Rates, Interventions, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
The Board heard an update on chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of enrolled school days, or approximately 18 days per school year. Highlights of the presentation included:
- During the 2024-25 school year, Nevada had the twelfth highest chronic absenteeism rate.
- Clark County School District's chronic absenteeism rate for the 2024-25 school year is 31.3%; Washoe's is 28.1%.
- Chronic absenteeism rates fluctuate across ethnicities and student sub-populations (for example, students who are economically disadvantaged, English Learners, and students with disabilities).
- Reasons for chronic absenteeism include barriers (illness, lack of health, trauma, unsafe path to/from school, poor transportation, frequent moves or school changes, involvement with child welfare or juvenile justice systems); negative school experiences (academic or social struggles, bullying, suspensions and expulsions, negative attitudes of parents, undiagnosed disability, lack of appropriate accommodations for disability); lack of engagement (lack of culturally relevant, engaging instruction; no meaningful relationships with adults in school; stronger ties with peers outside of school; unwelcoming school climate; failure to earn credits/no future plan; many teacher absences or long-term substitutes); and misconceptions (absences are only a problem if they are unexcused; missing two days a month doesn't affect learning; sporadic absences aren't a problem; attendance only matters in older grades).
- Interventions and supports include Nevada joining the Attendance Works challenge to reduce chronic absenteeism by 50% in 5 years, a group of engaged partners to reduce chronic absenteeism, and a whole student systems approach.
Explore the presentation.
Board Heard an Update on Nevada Graduation Rates from 2024-25
The Board heard an update on 2024-25 graduation rates, current statewide data, and trends. Highlights of the presentation included:
- Statewide four-year graduation rates have increased to 85.4%, from 81.6% in 2024.
- Clark and Washoe County School Districts saw increases in their respective graduation rates (86.6% for Clark County, 83.3% for Washoe County), and the SPCSA saw a slight decrease in their graduation rate (82.6%).
- The Class of 2025 graduates: 45.2% Hispanic, 28.0% White, 10.4% Black, 6.9% two or more races; 6.8% Asian; 1.7% Pacific Islander; and .6% American Indian/Alaska Native. There remain significant disparities among graduation rates by race and ethnicity.
- 57.3% of graduates earned a standard diploma; 28.5% earned a college and career-ready diploma, and 13.6% earned an advanced diploma. 0.5% earned an alternative diploma.
Board members also received a presentation on Nevada's statewide longitudinal data system on NPWR, a data system with inputs from DETR, the Nevada Department of Education, and the Nevada System of Higher Education, with the goal of measuring the efficacy and status of the performance of the State's education system and workforce outcomes. Explore the presentation.
Representatives from the Nevada System of Higher Education also presented on its College Readiness Data Dashboard, which provides data on college continuation rates from Nevada high school graduates. The dashboard can be accessed here, and the presentation can be found here.
Explore the presentation.
Board Approved Consent Agenda
Consent agenda items included:
- Approval of private school license renewals
- Approval of the State Board of Education meeting minutes from December 10, 2025, with a pending revision
- Approval of the State Board of Education NRS 388G Subcommittee Meeting Minutes from December 18, 2025
Review the consent agenda.
Public Comment #2
Public comment was heard on the following subjects:
- Graduation rates and outcomes of students with disabilities
Future Agenda Items
Suggestions for future agenda items include community schools and family resource centers, ceremonial swearings-in, board compensation, student access and awareness for college and career preparation programs, and durable skills and existing curriculum.
The next meeting of the State Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, March 11, at 9:00 a.m.
