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For all the national and even international debate about the state of American education, public schooling in the U.S. is still a local matter--and the school district remains its hub. As administrators know, there's nothing abstract about the process of getting millions of students into their seats, assuring they receive the instruction they're legally entitled to, and welding teachers, principals, and their schools into a coherent, smooth-functioning system. But there's no one blueprint for how to organize that system. Districts are remaking themselves in a variety of creative and sometimes unprecedented ways as they seek to cope with fiscal, academic, and social pressures that complicate the job of educating America's students. In Education Week's 18th annual edition of Quality Counts, reporters delve into the forces that are reshaping the traditional school district and the forms that can take. Those changes may be generated from within, as districts seek to cope with demographic pressures unforeseen a few generations ago. They may be imposed from outside after long-standing performance and fiscal problems prompt municipal or state-level leaders to take action, with profound implications for local control. And while the specifics and degree may vary, virtually all districts--from school systems in chronic crisis to the most stable and well-functioning--find themselves pushed to go beyond business as usual. In offering a wide range of perspectives on these forces, this year's report: (1) Analyzes the experience of Memphis, Tenn., where a struggling big-city system undergoes a radical makeover and tries to retain its identity, even as it cedes significant portions of its autonomy; (2) Documents the dramatic rise of charter schools and virtual education, and the competitive challenge these burgeoning school choice models pose to established districts; (3) Assesses the political tensions that arise as state and federal officials take an active role in education policy in ways that complicate life at the local level; and (4) Offers snapshots from five distinctly different school systems-from the urban to the small town-and the ways they are dealing with the unique circumstances that affect education in their communities. Following "District Pressure Cookers Test Recipes for Success" by the editors, other articles in this issue include: (1) From Tuneup to Extreme Makeover, School Systems Integrate Changes (Jaclyn Zubrzycki); (2) Memphis Schools on the Hot Seat Amid Rival Management Strategies (Jaclyn Zubrzycki); (3) Post- Recession Fiscal Wariness Driving Careful, Painful Choices (Michele McNeil); (4) Charters Add Competitive Twist to District-Governance Puzzle (Katie Ash); (5) In Quest to Keep Enrollment, Aid Online Schools are Tough Rivals (Michelle R. Davis); (6) State, Local Officials Square Off on Who Calls K-12 Policy Shots (Andrew Ujifusa); (7) Local Districts on Receiving End of Federal Largess, Headaches (Michele McNeil); and (8) Equity in Achievement, Funding a Hurdle for States Amid Progress (Sterling C. Lloyd & Christopher Swanson).

The article focuses on Nevada's use of artificial intelligence (AI) to determine school funding, showcasing both its potential benefits and the challenges it presents. Topics include the significant reduction in the number of students qualifying for at-risk aid, concerns raised by educators and advocates about the accuracy and transparency of the new funding formula, and the implications of using AI in school finance nationwide.

The article discusses the educational aspects of teaching the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and debating gun laws in the aftermath of school shootings and examines the methodology of West Wendover, Nevada, government teacher Kathy Durham.

The article reports on improving the academic achievement of roughly 400,000 public school students in Nevada. Nevada faces the ongoing challenge of a skyrocketing enrollment as it works toward a more cohesive strategy for improving academic achievement and graduation rates. Educators in Nevada seem to agree the state could do a lot more to improve the academic achievement of the roughly 400,000 public school students in pre-K-12th grade this year, who, on average, lag behind their peers in most other states on national standardized tests and graduation rates.

Focuses on Partnership at Las Vegas (PAL), a program aimed at reducing the number of high school dropouts in Las Vegas, Nevada schools. Factors that contribute to the high dropout rate among high school students; History of PAL; Strategies used in order to motivate students to attend classes; Experiences of students who participate in the PAL program.

The article discusses technical problems facing online testing in Nevada associated with the Common Core State Standards educational guidelines and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium of states. Topics include blame for the test vendor firms Measured Progress Inc. and American Institutes for Research (AIR), capacity problems with the texts, and the bidding processes for similar tests in other states.

Reports on the state of urban public education in Nevada. Disadvantaged schools; Resources; School climate; Quality of teaching; Standards and assessments; Academic achievement; School finance; Educational initiatives. INSET: State policy update..

The article presents a restaurant guide for attendees at the 120th annual convention of the American Association of School Administrators to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 19 to 22, 1988, including Beverly Hills Bar & Grill, Furss Cafeterias, Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall and Golden Corral Family Steak House.

The article highlights the topics to discussed at the 120th annual convention of the American Association of School Administrators to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 19 to 22, 1988. These include insights into understanding human behavior, effect of stress on executive leadership, strategies for finding a new position brining the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution into the classroom, pay for performance program for administrators and implementation of a sex education program.

The article reports on the use of dance as a teaching method in U.S. public schools. The Teaching Science with Dance in Mind program at Fort Garrison Elementary School in Baltimore County, Maryland is discussed. The promotion of dance education in the U.S. is also discussed. The social and academic benefits from studying the arts are noted. The Arts Infusion Project in Washoe County, Nevada for teacher development is funded by a government grant.

The article discusses how schools in the Clark County school district near Las Vegas, Nevada have used federal economic stimulus funds to improve academic achievement through tutoring, professional development and credit recovery programs. Clark County superintendent Walt Rulffes has allowed school principals autonomy in spending the funds, which have also prevented teacher layoffs, financed parent literacy programs and increased the number of schools receiving Title I funding.

From the outside, Nevada-based Incline High School looks pretty much as it did when the author graduated in 1981. Incline High School was designated a rate of high-achieving school by the Nevada's department of education in 2000 and 2001. One of Incline High School's great strengths was that its natives could join almost any sport, club, or activity offered. Now-a-days they can have higher expectations and more decisions as compared to the author's classmates. Graduates can earn an honors diploma in at least two foreign-language credits, three math and three science credits, and four English credits. Nevada high school students now must take proficiency tests in reading, writing, and mathematics in order to graduate. INSET: Robert C. Johnston. Incline High School Incline Village, Ne....

Reports on the quality of public education in the state of Nevada. Student achievement based on National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores; Quality of teaching; Standards and assessments; School climate; Resources; Vital statistics of the state; Children in poverty; Single parent families; Growth of population; Child welfare; Class size; Investment in school technology.

The article reports the tackling of property taxes and lotteries of coalitions in 4 states as election nears in the U.S. In California, Michigan, Oregon and Nevada, voters will weigh in on property-tax-limitation measures that would limit tax levels and prevent state legislatures from raising taxes without either a public referendum or a majority legislative vote. California will also vote on a state-lottery-initiative.

The article presents gambling tips of interest to attendees at the 120th annual convention of the American Association of School Administrators to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 19 to 22, 1988, including blackjack, craps or dice, slots, keno and roulette. Important things that players need remember are presented.

The article discusses changes to U.S. school districts known as turnaround districts as of late 2017, particularly concerning necessary school improvement processes mandated by the U.S. legislation the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), particularly concerning state takeovers of underperforming schools in several states including Michigan, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

The article reports that the Clark County school district in Nevada could be split into smaller districts under a 2015 state law. Supporters of the law say that smaller districts would improve services and communications with parents, while critics have expressed concerns about the division of the district's resources and debts and efforts to build new schools. Particular focus is given to equality for minority and low-income students. Previous educational reforms in the state are discussed.

The article looks at a school choice law recently passed in Nevada which allows all families of public-school students to direct most or all of the per-pupil amount of state education funding toward private-school or home-schooling expenses, using individual education savings accounts (ESAs). It notes that advocacy groups including the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice and the Goldwater Institute participated in writing the law.

The article discusses U.S. Education Department requests for information from Delaware, Nevada, and New Mexico in relation to the U.S. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Topics include the views of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on ESSA, federal relations with states regarding education policy, and Delaware's use of Advanced Placement (AP) tests as part of its compliance with ESSA.

The article discusses possible implications of the ending of Nevada's education savings accounts (ESAs), a private school choice program. Topics include the development of a similar ESA program in Arizona, opposition to the Nevada program by Democratic Party state legislators, and comments by researcher Matthew Ladner of the think tank Charles Koch Institute.

The article covers a study which found that families in more affluent neighborhoods are the top applicants for Nevada's state education-savings-account (ESA) program.

The article reports that Nevada's board of education has approved of a reorganization of the Clark County, Nevada school district and increased autonomy for principals.

The article discusses voters' reactions to 2008 educational referendum issues. The author notes that legislative measures to reform the Minneapolis, Minnesota school board and to merge school districts in Maricopa County, Arizona were approved, while proposals to lease Akron, Ohio sewer systems and increase sales tax in Washoe County, Nevada to provide sources of educational funds were rejected by voters. Former basketball player Kevin Johnson was elected mayor of Sacramento, California.

The article reports that the Clark County, Nevada school district will revise its mathematics tests used to evaluate middle and high school students after the majority of them failed the tests last school year. The district is using the tests to determine if its students will be ready for a state test in the year 2010. According to the article, results from last year's tests showed 91% of students failed Algebra 1, 88% failed geometry, and 86% failed Algebra 2.

The article focuses on increases in school aid which were seen in Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arkansas and Tennessee in 2007. Funding problems which were seen in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Michigan, Maryland and Florida are discussed. Educational initiatives which were implemented in 2007 in several states, including Utah and Maine, are examined.

This article reports that testing irregularities in Nevada's public schools, including incidents involving student cheating and teacher misconduct, increased by more than 50 percent in 200304 from the previous school year, according to an annual report. The report, which was mandated by the legislature in 2001, found 24 incidents of student cheating and 10 incidents that involved the improper disclosure of testing materials to students by teachers in the past school year. In the report, submitted to the Assembly's committee on education last month, officials with the state department of education contend that the increase in test irregularities is due in large part to the testing demands of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. A majority of cheating by Nevada students and teachers occurs in grades 8-12 where more students have access to electronic gadgets that they use to give then an edge. Teachers who improperly disclose testing materials or help students on tests can have their licenses suspended or revoked.

Nevada voters could be drawn into an all-out battle to decide how big a priority school funding should be if two initiatives to amend the state constitution find their way to the ballot. One initiative, proposed by the Nevada State Education Association (NSEA), would require state lawmakers to increase per-pupil spending to the national average by 2012. If approved, union officials say, the measure would provide the state's rapidly expanding student population with better educational opportunities by ensuring smaller class sizes, better technology, and adequate textbooks. But opponents say the NSEA initiative is not viable because it doesn't adequately define what" national average" means and doesn't provide a mechanism for funding the proposal.

Focuses on the regulation of school officials on the use of Web sites by students in Clark County, Nevada. Notification of districts network administrator on the request of students; Function of the Internet filter; Provision of the Children's Internet Protection Act.

Focuses on the improvement of education program for pre-schoolers in Nevada. Budget for grants to school for fiscal year 2002 and 2003; Efforts for improving and increasing teacher training; Approval for teacher salary improvement in 2001.

Presents an overview of education in Nevada, current as of May 2001. Progress of plan to integrate technology into schools' curricula; Enrollment figures for prekindergarten through grade 12; Percent of children in poverty in 1998; Percent of minority students in 1999; Students per instructional computer; E-rate funding through March 6, 2001.

The article offers information regarding the challenges faced by schools in Nevada related to shortage of teachers in the state. It mentions several initiatives implemented in the state to fight the shortage being experienced in the state including the launched of a large-scale national marketing campaign, the establishment of a hiring incentive for teachers through funding from the state, and collaboration among school leaders to enroll long-term substitute teachers.

A blog regarding the delay in the implementation of the new school choice program in Nevada until a final decision is made over its constitutionality, is presented.

The article reports that most students participating in Nevada's education savings account program live in the state's wealthier suburbs, which already have high enrollment rates in private schools.

The article presents a reprint from a post on the journal's online "Charters and Choice" blog from the week of September 9, 2015, discussing the legal challenge issued by the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada against the state's school choice legislation.

The article reports on political debate in Nevada as of August 2015 regarding the state's school choice laws, highlighting concern over the availability of private schools. Topics addressed include an overview of the provisions within the state's school choice law enacted in June, how expected demand for private school enrollment could outstrip the state's supply, and further discussion regarding the administration of the state's educational savings accounts (ESAs).

The article reports on the passage of a law in Nevada regarding the collective bargaining rights of school employees, outlining provisions in areas including school administrators' right to join a union, job security of school principals, and arbitration of school district labor disputes.

Reports on the idea of the voters in Carson City, Nevada to create a program linking the curriculum and instruction of a high school with that of a community college. Opposition to the proposal by the community college faculty members; Goal of the Carson City district; Source of the idea; Membership requirements.

Features Clark County elementary school district in Las Vegas, Nev.'s Mathematics and Science Enhancement (MASE) program. Linda Gregg as program coordinator; Purpose of the program; Design; Impact of the program.

Reports on the Clark County, Nevada school district's strategy of turning to the school system's special education classes to find the special education teachers it needs. Creation of a curriculum for paraprofessionals and parents of students with disabilities who want to be teachers; Giving of special education certification within one year.

Offers information on the Millennium Scholarships, an educational program proposed by Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn. Benefit to community college students; Other education priorities of Guinn.

Evaluates the progress of education reform in Nevada. Educational standards measures; Approach to educational accountability; Nevada's class-size-reduction initiatives; Pressures on low-performing schools; Impact of the accountability system to education.