CARSON CITY, NEV. –Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak today issued Declaration of Emergency Directive 014 to continue to support districts and schools in providing opportunities for students to learn from a distance during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This directive builds on Directive 005, signed on March 20, 2020 by the Governor, which waived requirements for State assessments, including Smarter Balanced assessments and end of course exams.

Directive 014 supports the authority of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jhone Ebert, to temporarily waive or suspend laws or regulations that would place an undue burden on students’ ability to graduate from high school on-time. In addition, it allows the State Board of Education to approve amendments to districts’ work-based learning plans. These amendments, to be considered at the State Board’s April 30 meeting, will ensure students are able to earn the credit hours needed for a College and Career Ready Diploma despite the impact of COVID-19-related workplace closures.

“I want to thank our district and school leaders, teachers, staff, and families for all of the work they are doing to continue educational opportunities for students during school building closures,” Governor Sisolak said. “At a time when our communities are facing great uncertainty, I am proud of our school personnel for reaching out to students to offer not only distance education, but also the social and emotional support that they need.”

In an ongoing effort to align the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Sisolak has also directed Regional Professional Development Programs to work directly through Superintendent Ebert and the Department of Education to provide guidance and resources to teachers and other licensed personnel during the response situation. This partnership is critical to the development and dissemination of high-quality resources to educators and to the success of the Emergency Programs of Distance Education.

“Due to COVID-19, the graduating class of 2020 will have to shift many of the celebrations and milestones that they have been looking forward to throughout their high school career,” Superintendent Ebert said. “One thing they will not have to sacrifice is their chance to demonstrate readiness for college and careers by earning their high school diploma. I want to thank the district leaders who collaborated with the Department of Education to create graduation guidance, recognize our educators and school staff for their ongoing dedication, and express my gratitude for Governor Sisolak’s continued leadership on behalf of our students and families.”