NDE - Assessments and Accountability
Synopsis: This budget account funds several testing programs, each described below, mandated by the Legislature and administered by the Department of Education (Department). The budget account is primarily funded by the State General Fund.
As per NRS 389.015, examinations measuring proficiency and achievement in reading, writing, mathematics, and science designed as a comparison to national reference groups, are to be administered before the completion of grades 5, 8, and high school.
NRS 389.015 also requires that examinations measuring achievement and proficiency in reading, mathematics, and science be administered to all students before the end of grade 11.
The 2001 Legislature provided funds to support a contract with a nationally recognized testing company for the development, printing, scoring, and reporting of the Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRTs) in grades 3-8 (NRS 389.550). Using the CRT program for purposes of school accountability is required for Federal Title I compliance and by NRS 385.
Academic Standards Council provides funding to support operational costs in support of the Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools. The Academic Standards Council has been designated through NRS 389 as the sole entity within the state responsible for the establishment, periodic review, and prioritization of content and performance standards in the subject areas of English, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, computer and technology education, health, and physical education.
Effective with the 2010-2011 biennium, funding for the Student Accountability Information in Nevada data system has been moved to this budget account from budget account 2699 because these funds are expended on a statewide system of student accountability and are not included in the funds passed through to the school districts and charter schools. This system captures students via unique identifications and tracks their progress through the education system, including their test results on the above mentioned tests. Because of the system's interaction with student testing, the Department felt it was proper to account for these funds in this budget account.
Authority: NRS 387 and 389; 2001 17th Special Session S.B. 2 and S.B. 13.