Governor Gibbons to Sign Race to Top Bill in Las Vegas on Wednesday
CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons on Wednesday will sign the “Race to the Top” bill allowing Nevada to compete for federal school improvement funds, a spokesman said today.
Dan Burns, communications director for Gibbons, said via email that the governor will sign Senate Bill 2 to give Nevada the chance to compete for as much as $175 million in one-time federal funds to improve student achievement.
The signing will take place in Las Vegas. The bill was passed by the Legislature in the special session that ended March 1.
The bill eliminates a provision in Nevada law that says student achievement data cannot be used to evaluate teachers. The provision has barred Nevada from competing for the funds. An application seeking a share of the funds is due from the state by June.
The measure became embroiled in controversy, however, because some new language was added saying that student achievement data could not be the only criterion for evaluating teachers. The bill passed the Senate on a 16-5 vote, with some Republicans expressing concern about whether the new language might hamper the state’s ability to compete for the funds. The bill passed the Assembly on a unanimous vote.
There was some suggestion that Gibbons might veto the bill, sending it back to the Legislature for a potential override of the veto during the special session. But as a source inside Gibbons’ office told the Nevada News Bureau on February 26, that did not occur.
No related posts.