| The most recent Nevada session did little to | | | | Parise-Malloy of the Nevadans for Quality |
| alleviate the feeling in Las Vegas Schools that | | | | Education said that, "Until our per-pupil funding |
| public education is low on the state's list of | | | | levels come up, and we're providing basic, |
| priorities. As Las Vegas Schools try to educate a | | | | adequate support, our students are not going |
| large and diverse urban community the state of | | | | anywhere. We're wasting our time." |
| Nevada doesn't offer much support. Spending per | | | | With a national initiative that requires all students |
| pupil in the state is about $1,800 less than the | | | | to achieve "proficiency" on state exams by 2014, |
| national average. Las Vegas Schools, along with | | | | and that requires "highly qualified teachers" for |
| other education and healthcare advocates, | | | | math and science, Las Vegas Schools have a long |
| expressed disappointment at the legislature's | | | | road ahead. Teacher pay raises for Las Vegas |
| inability to bring the state to what some call a | | | | Schools' teachers were last raised by 2% in 2001, |
| minimal standard of care. | | | | and are slated for a 4% increase in 2009. Las |
| One of the biggest disappointments to parents | | | | Vegas Schools' districts, like Clark County, expect |
| and educators of Las Vegas Schools was the lack | | | | to have vacancies in the thousands for the |
| of money to fund a universal all-day kindergarten | | | | 2007-2008 school year. One bright spot of the |
| program. According to a recent Las Vegas Sun | | | | recent session was that incentives for teachers in |
| article, educational advocates like Mary Jo | | | | at-risk schools were maintained. |