October 6, 2020

CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada Department of Education announced today that Nevada was one of only six states awarded federal funding through the Expanding Access to Well-Rounded Courses Demonstration Grants Program. The $2.6 million award will be distributed over a five-year period with an award of $314,305 provided in the first year.

This funding will expand access to career and technical education (CTE), Advanced Placement, and work-based learning course opportunities to rural school districts where such options were non-existent before. In addition, the grant will provide services to support students with disabilities, including funding to hire additional special education teachers. Students will have access to these courses via distance learning, live streaming or in-person instruction options. The Nevada Department of Education is currently in the planning phase of implementing these courses, which may be available during the 2021-22 school year.

“As I visited communities throughout the State, a key theme I heard from students and parents was the need for more course options, particularly in our rural communities” said Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I am thrilled that this timely grant will allow us to leverage our growing distance learning infrastructure to bring CTE and advanced coursework to more students across the Silver State.”

The Expanding Access to Well-Rounded Courses Demonstration Grants Program is offered through the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary & Secondary Education. The program provides competitive grants to state education agencies to demonstrate models for providing well-rounded educational opportunities through course access programs.

About the Nevada Department of Education

The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) leads and collaborates with Nevada’s 17 school districts and the State Public Charter School Authority to advance educational equity Statewide. With offices in Carson City and Las Vegas, NDE oversees all pre-K-12 education in the State, working to achieve its mission to improve student achievement and educator effectiveness by ensuring opportunities, facilitating learning, and promoting excellence. Under the leadership of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, NDE impacts the achievement of nearly half a million children and 30,000 educators.