April 17, 2026

CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada Department of Education is providing a planning grant to support a proactive and collaborative effort between the Clark County School District and Clark County Education Association to launch a school improvement pilot project.

The project will receive up to $247,860 in state funding, thanks to a funding from Senate Bill 460 approved on Thursday by the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee.

The pilot will be fully implemented during the 2026-27 school year at Desert Pines and Western high schools, as well as neighboring elementary and middle schools – the feeder pattern, allowing a focus on student learning as they progress through grades across schools.

It will target four evidence-based pillars: Pre-K, early literacy, middle school math, and workforce/college readiness. Efforts align with SB460, a comprehensive update to Nevada’s K-12 system approved by Governor Lombardo and the Legislature during the 2025 session.

“We are excited to see the Clark County School District and Clark County Education Association pursue focused efforts to improve student outcomes by advancing the pillars of SB460,” said Dr. Victor Wakefield, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Learning from promising efforts across the state is a priority. This innovative project identifies schools strategically, focuses on research-backed areas, engages educators in the improvement process, and commits to increase student outcomes at all levels.”

The work strongly aligns with the Nevada Department of Education’s strategic priorities. The pilot project’s approach and focus on outcomes may be considered for replication in other Nevada school districts and charter schools.

“CCSD is proud to join forces with the State of Nevada, CCEA, and UNLV to pilot new ways of increasing student achievement,” said Jhone Ebert, Superintendent of the Clark County School District. “Nevada has one of the shortest instructional days in the nation, and by giving our students and staff more time to engage in the learning process we know we will see improved student proficiency.

“Schools in this program will have the opportunity to design programs that meet their students' needs, including high dosage and after-school tutoring, additional support aligned with CCSD's Core Four academic priorities of PreK, early literacy, middle school mathematics, and workforce and college readiness,” said Superintendent Ebert. “We look forward to collaborating with our community partners and measuring the results of this investment."

“SB460 Legislation has provided CCSD, NDE, and CCEA the opportunity to work in a unique and collaborative way to improve student outcomes,” said John Vellardita, Executive Director of the Clark County Education Association. “CCEA looks forward to this work and the successful outcomes it will accomplish.”

Participating schools are:

• Desert Pines High School

  • Middle schools: J. D. Smith and Roy W. Martin

  • Elementary schools: Gragson, Hewetson, Lunt, Moore, Sunrise Acres, and Tom Williams

• Western High School
  • Middle schools: J. Harold Brinley Middle School and Robert O. Gibson Leadership Academy
  • Elementary schools: Culley, Fong, McWilliams, Reed, Ronzone, and Twin Lakes

Supports will include on-campus Nevada Ready! State pre-K (NR!PK) programs at high schools, counseling and achievement coaching, small group math instruction, professional development, middle school math strategists, and extended learning.

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. Learn more at https://doe.nv.gov/ and join us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.