Panel OKs study of state’s way of funding education

CARSON CITY -- A $125,000 study to examine whether Nevada's method of funding education adequately serves the state's diverse student population was authorized Friday by a legislative subcommittee.

Members of the New Method for Funding Public Schools Committee agreed to seeks proposals from education consultants to do the study after Clark County School District Associate Superintendent Joyce Haldeman said the district, which requested the study, had raised the necessary funds from donors.

The committee plans to hire a consultant in April and receive a completed study in August. Recommendations based on the study could be developed and submitted to the Legislature when it convenes in 2013. During last spring's session, Haldeman said that the "Nevada Plan" of funding education has been in effect since 1967 and that a great deal has changed since then.

At that time, 95 percent of students in Nevada were white. Today, the Clark County School District is more diverse and serves an enrollment that is 42 percent Hispanic, 32 percent white and
12.4 percent black.

In a typical class of 33 students, 15 qualify for free and reduced cost meals, six are English language learners, and three are special education students.

To fund schools now, legislators consider the wealth of each of the 17 school districts and then guarantee a level of support for students in each district. Larger school districts, such as Clark County, receive less in guaranteed support than those in tiny districts, such as Esmeralda County, which has fewer than 100 students.

In the current year, the Legislature appropriated an average of $5,263 per student. Clark County's appropriation is $5,136 per student, while Esmeralda County students receive $18,403. Support per student in mining rich Eureka County is $100.

At the hearing Friday, Sen. Greg Brower, R-Reno, requested Haldeman release publicly the names of donors. The Review-Journal also requested the list of donors. Haldeman said she would provide the list but did not have it at the meeting.

Brower questioned whether funding a legislative study through donations was legal under state law. Legislative lawyers said the enabling bill, Senate Bill 11, called for donations for the study. But they also said it may be the first time the Legislature has funded a study through private donations.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.