CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Senate on Friday approved using $2 million in state funds for a nonprofit group to recruit teachers for hard-to-fill positions in at-risk schools in Clark County.
Senators passed SB517 on a 20-1 vote. It now moves to the Assembly, which must act on the bill before the Legislature adjourns Monday.
Backers of the bill say Teach for America will match state funding four-to-one, allowing Clark County to hire 50 teachers.
The national nonprofit organization recruits recent college graduates and professionals to teach in at risk schools in urban and rural areas for at least two years.
Critics argue the state should use that money to invest in its own educational workforce instead of on teachers who may leave after two years.
“I do intend to support SB517 but I am a bit conflicted on this bill,” Sen. Joyce Woodhouse, D-Henderson, told colleagues before the floor vote.
A retired teacher, Woodhouse said the math, science and special education teachers are especially needed in Clark County, one of the largest school districts in the nation.
“But on the other side I am concerned about the preparation that these young people have,” she said.
She said many are “learning on the job,” adding that while that’s not a bad thing, they don’t have the tutelage of experienced teachers “to really learn and observe the art of teaching.”
Clark County has been involved with the program since 2004, and officials there praise Teach for America, saying it reduces the district’s recruitment costs and helps vet qualified teachers for positions at the most at-risk schools. During earlier committee hearings, Clark County officials also said that while teachers sign up for two years, many stay afterward and continue teaching in the neediest schools.
Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, said Teach for America is a valuable program, but noted a state incentive program was scrapped.
“I think we need to take a hard look at the value we put on education,” he said, adding that Nevada puts the same “value” on math and science teachers at at-risk schools as a physical education teacher at an affluent school in an upper-class neighborhood.
Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, was the lone vote against the bill. He said he didn’t oppose the program, but rather earmarking state general fund dollars to a specific group.
