Nevada lawmakers have passed a bill lifting a roadblock to the state’s eligibility for competitive federal education grants.
The bill removes 15 words from state law that banned student test scores from being used in teacher evaluations. The law had made Nevada ineligible to apply for Race to the Top education grants. The bill was immediately referred to the Assembly, where it was approved unanimously.
Some Nevadans objected to 31 new words inserted to clarify that test scores cant be used as the sole criteria in teacher evaluations or disciplinary actions, added at the urging of the state teachers union. Critics of the language said it could jeopardize the states chances of receiving up to $175 million in federal grants. Gov. Jim Gibbons threatened to veto it.
