Nevada § 218E.625 - Creation; personnel; general powers and duties; confidentiality of certain information

§ 218E.625. Creation; personnel; general powers and duties; confidentiality of certain information

1. The Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation is

hereby created within the Fiscal Analysis Division. The Fiscal Analysts shall appoint to the Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability

and Program Evaluation a Chief and such other personnel as the Fiscal Analysts determine

are necessary for the Bureau to carry out its duties pursuant to this section. 2. The Bureau shall, as the Fiscal Analysts determine is necessary or at the request

of the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education: (a) Collect and analyze data and issue written reports concerning: (1) The effectiveness of the provisions of chapter 385A of NRS in improving the accountability of the schools of this State; (2) The statewide program to reduce the ratio of pupils per class per licensed teacher

prescribed in NRS 388.700 , 388.710 and 388.720 ; (3) The statewide program to educate persons with disabilities that is set forth in NRS 388.5223 to 388.5243 , inclusive; (4) The results of the examinations of the National Assessment of Educational Progress

that are administered pursuant to NRS 390.830 ; and (5) Any program or legislative measure, the purpose of which is to reform the system

of education within this State. (b) Conduct studies and analyses to evaluate the performance and progress of the system

of public education within this State. Such studies and analyses may be conducted: (1) As the Fiscal Analysts determine are necessary; or (2) At the request of the Legislature. This paragraph does not prohibit the Bureau from contracting with a person or entity

to conduct studies and analyses on behalf of the Bureau. (c) On or before October 1 of each even-numbered year, submit a written report of

its findings pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) to the Director for transmission to

the next regular session. The Bureau shall, on or before October 1 of each odd-numbered year, submit a written

report of its findings pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) to the Director for transmission

to the Legislative Commission and to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education. 3. The Bureau may, pursuant to NRS 218F.620 , require a school, a school district, the Nevada System of Higher Education or the

Department of Education to submit to the Bureau books, papers, records and other information

that the Chief of the Bureau determines are necessary to carry out the duties of the

Bureau pursuant to this section. An entity whom the Bureau requests to produce records or other information shall

provide the records or other information in any readily available format specified

by the Bureau. 4. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and NRS 239.0115 , any information obtained by the Bureau pursuant to this section shall be deemed

a work product that is confidential pursuant to NRS 218F.150 . The Bureau may, at the discretion of the Chief and after submission to the Legislature

or Legislative Commission, as appropriate, publish reports of its findings pursuant

to paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection 2. 5. This section does not prohibit the Department of Education or the State Board of

Education from conducting analyses, submitting reports or otherwise reviewing educational

programs in this State.