Nevada § 388.890 - State Board to establish recommendations for ratio of pupils per teacher and specialized instructional support personnel; posting on Internet website of approved ratio of pupils per teacher in each class; adoption of strategic plan to meet ratio of pupils to specialized instructional support personnel

§ 388.890. State Board to establish recommendations for ratio of pupils per teacher and specialized instructional support personnel; posting on Internet website of approved ratio of pupils per teacher in each class; adoption of strategic plan to meet ratio of pupils to specialized instructional support personnel

1. The State Board shall develop nonbinding recommendations for the ratio of pupils

per licensed teacher and specialized instructional support personnel in the public

schools of this State for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. The board of trustees of each school district shall consider the recommendations

in establishing the ratio of pupils per licensed teacher or specialized instructional

support personnel, as applicable, in the school district. 2. The recommendations developed by the State Board must: (a) Prescribe a suggested ratio of pupils per licensed teacher for each classroom

and course of instruction, except choir, orchestra and band, in kindergarten and grades

1 to 12, inclusive; (b) Prescribe a suggested ratio of pupils per each type of specialized instructional

support personnel for each kind of public school described in NRS 388.020 ; (c) Be based on evidence-based national standards set forth by the licensing body

for teachers and the licensing body for each type of specialized instructional support

personnel; (d) Take into account the unique needs of certain pupils, including, without limitation,

pupils who are English learners; (e) Require that administrators and other licensed educational personnel, including,

without limitation, counselors, coaches and special education teachers, who may be

present in a classroom but do not teach every pupil in the classroom may not be counted

in determining the ratio of pupils per licensed teacher; and (f) Count only teachers who are actively teaching pupils during a class period and

teach a subject, and are the teacher of record assigned to the classroom of pupils,

for which the ratio of pupils per licensed teacher is being determined. 3. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to relieve a school district of its obligation

to comply with the requirements of NRS 388.700 and 388.720 , as applicable to the school district. 4. Not later than 30 days after the beginning of each school year, the board of trustees

of each school district shall post on an Internet website maintained by the school

district the ratio of pupils per licensed teacher that has been approved for each

class in the district. 5. The board of trustees of a school district with one or more schools that exceed

the recommended ratio of pupils to specialized instructional support personnel shall

develop a 15-year strategic plan to achieve the ratio of pupils to specialized instructional

support personnel in the district. 6. On or before February 1 of each odd-numbered year, the board of trustees of each

school district shall submit a report on the progress of the school district in obtaining

the ratio of pupils per licensed teacher and specialized instructional support personnel

recommended pursuant to this section to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau

for transmittal to the Senate and Assembly Standing Committees on Education. 7. As used in this section: (a) “English learner” has the meaning ascribed to it in 20 U.S.C. § 7801(20) . (b) “ Specialized instructional support personnel ” includes persons employed by each school to provide necessary services such as assessment,

diagnosis, counseling, educational services, therapeutic services and related services,

as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1401(26) , to pupils. Such persons employed by a school include, without limitation: (1) A school counselor; (2) A school psychologist; (3) A school social worker; (4) A school nurse; (5) A speech-language pathologist; (6) A school library media specialist; and (7) Any other qualified professional.