1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, for each school quarter of a school year, the ratio in each school district of pupils per licensed teacher designated to teach, on a full-time basis, in classes where core curriculum is taught:
(a) In kindergarten and grades 1 and 2, must not exceed 16 to 1, and in grade 3, must not exceed 18 to 1; or
(b) If a plan is approved pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 388.720, must not exceed the ratio set forth in that plan for the grade levels specified in the plan.
In determining this ratio, all licensed educational personnel who teach a grade level specified in paragraph (a) or a grade level specified in a plan that is approved pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 388.720, as applicable for the school district, must be counted except teachers of art, music, physical education or special education, teachers who teach one or two specific subject areas to more than one classroom of pupils, counselors, librarians, administrators, deans, specialists, any administrators or other licensed educational personnel, including, without limitation, counselors, coaches and special education teachers, who may be present in a classroom but do not teach every pupil in the classroom and teachers who are not actively teaching pupils during a class period or who do not teach a subject area for which the ratio of pupils per licensed teacher is being determined.
2. A school district may, within the limits of any plan adopted pursuant to NRS 388.720, assign a pupil whose enrollment in a grade occurs after the end of a quarter during the school year to any existing class regardless of the number of pupils in the class if the school district requests and is approved for a variance from the State Board pursuant to subsection 4.
3. Each school district that includes one or more elementary schools which exceed the ratio of pupils per class during any quarter of a school year, as reported to the Department pursuant to NRS 388.725:
(a) Set forth in subsection 1;
(b) Prescribed in conjunction with a legislative appropriation for the support of the class-size reduction program; or
(c) Defined by a legislatively approved alternative class-size reduction plan, if applicable to that school district,
must request a variance for each such school for the next quarter of the current school year if a quarter remains in that school year or for the next quarter of the succeeding school year, as applicable, from the State Board by providing a written statement that includes the reasons for the request, the justification for exceeding the applicable prescribed ratio of pupils per class and a plan of actions that the school district will take to reduce the ratio of pupils per class.
4. The State Board may grant to a school district a variance from the limitation on the number of pupils per class set forth in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection 3 for good cause, including the lack of available financial support specifically set aside for the reduction of pupil-teacher ratios.
5. The State Board shall, on a quarterly basis, submit a report to the Interim Finance Committee on each variance requested by a school district pursuant to subsection 4 during the preceding quarter and, if a variance was granted, an identification of each elementary school for which a variance was granted and the specific justification for the variance.
6. The State Board shall, on or before February 1 of each odd-numbered year, submit a report to the Legislature on:
(a) Each variance requested by a school district pursuant to subsection 4 during the preceding biennium and, if a variance was granted, an identification of each elementary school for which variance was granted and the specific justification for the variance.
(b) The data reported to it by the various school districts pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 388.710, including an explanation of that data, and the current pupil-teacher ratios per class in the grade levels specified in paragraph (a) of subsection 1 or the grade levels specified in a plan that is approved pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 388.720, as applicable for the school district.
7. The Department shall, on or before November 15 of each year, report to the Chief of the Budget Division of the Office of Finance and the Fiscal Analysis Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau:
(a) The number of teachers employed full-time;
(b) The number of teachers employed in order to attain the ratio required by subsection 1;
(c) The number of substitute teachers filling vacancies or long-term positions;
(d) The number of pupils enrolled; and
(e) The number of teachers assigned to teach in the same classroom with another teacher or in any other arrangement other than one teacher assigned to one classroom of pupils,
during the current school year in the grade levels specified in paragraph (a) of subsection 1 or the grade levels specified in a plan that is approved pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 388.720, as applicable, for each school district.
8. The provisions of this section do not apply to a charter school or to a program of distance education provided pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive.
(Added to NRS by 1989, 2105; A 1993, 1362; 1995, 2820; 1999, 3312; 2001, 3157; 2005, 1264, 2161; 2013, 27th Special Session, 32; 2015, 3727; 2019, 979; 2021, 2126)
Structure Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 388 - System of Public Instruction
NRS 388.020 - Kinds of public schools.
NRS 388.030 - Division of public schools in school district into departments.
NRS 388.055 - Employment of school counselor; program for school counseling.
NRS 388.070 - Maintenance of schools with equal rights and privileges.
NRS 388.075 - Period of silence.
NRS 388.097 - Additional days or minutes of instruction for program of remedial education.
NRS 388.110 - Closing public schools for legal holidays.
NRS 388.1215 - "Administrator" defined.
NRS 388.122 - "Bullying" defined.
NRS 388.123 - "Cyber-bullying" defined.
NRS 388.1235 - "Discrimination based on race" defined.
NRS 388.124 - "Electronic communication" defined.
NRS 388.126 - "Governing body" defined.
NRS 388.1265 - "Protective hairstyle" defined.
NRS 388.1267 - "Race" defined.
NRS 388.127 - "School" defined.
NRS 388.132 - Legislative declaration concerning safe and respectful learning environment.
NRS 388.1324 - Committee on statewide school safety; membership; duties.
NRS 388.1335 - Inclusion of mental health resources on pupil identification card.
NRS 388.1343 - Establishment by administrator of each school; duties of administrator.
NRS 388.1344 - Membership; chair; duties.
NRS 388.135 - Discrimination based on race, bullying and cyber-bullying prohibited.
NRS 388.13505 - Reporting and categorization of incident of discrimination based on race.
NRS 388.136 - School officials prohibited from interfering with disclosure of violations.
NRS 388.139 - Text of certain provisions required to be included in rules of behavior.
NRS 388.1395 - Requirements for delivery of information during annual "Week of Respect."
NRS 388.1452 - "Director" defined.
NRS 388.14522 - "Handle with Care Program" defined.
NRS 388.14525 - "Public safety agency" defined.
NRS 388.1453 - "SafeVoice Program" and "Program" defined.
NRS 388.14535 - "Support center" defined.
NRS 388.1454 - Legislative findings and declarations concerning SafeVoice Program.
NRS 388.14555 - Immunity from liability for team and team members.
NRS 388.14557 - Requirements of support center.
NRS 388.165 - Development of academic plan required.
NRS 388.205 - Development of academic plan required for ninth grade pupils.
NRS 388.221 - Adoption of policy for peer mentoring.
NRS 388.224 - Distribution of information about financial planning and financial aid; reports.
NRS 388.231 - "Crisis" defined.
NRS 388.232 - "Development committee" defined.
NRS 388.233 - "Emergency" defined.
NRS 388.2335 - "Emergency operations plan development committee" defined.
NRS 388.234 - "Local organization for emergency management" defined.
NRS 388.2343 - "Lockdown" defined.
NRS 388.2345 - "Public safety agency" defined.
NRS 388.23457 - "Public school" defined.
NRS 388.235 - "School committee" defined.
NRS 388.2358 - "School resource officer" defined.
NRS 388.2359 - "Suicide" defined.
NRS 388.246 - Report on compliance with requirements concerning plan; random audits of plan.
NRS 388.247 - School committee: Establishment; membership; terms of members.
NRS 388.2565 - Training for school resource officers in prevention of suicide.
NRS 388.259 - Confidentiality of plans, approved deviations and certain other information.
NRS 388.262 - Designation of emergency manager.
NRS 388.282 - "Personally identifiable information" defined.
NRS 388.283 - "School service" defined.
NRS 388.284 - "School service provider" defined.
NRS 388.285 - "Targeted advertising" defined.
NRS 388.296 - Waiver or modification of any right, obligation or liability of provisions prohibited.
NRS 388.342 - Superintendent of Public Instruction to appoint person to oversee programs.
NRS 388.360 - Powers of State Board.
NRS 388.365 - Designation of Fund; use of money.
NRS 388.390 - Certain school districts and charter schools entitled to share in available money.
NRS 388.400 - Administration; State Treasurer as custodian.
NRS 388.406 - Rights of English learners.
NRS 388.4073 - Board of trustees required to collect certain data; reports.
NRS 388.4077 - Board of trustees required to post certain budgetary information on Internet website.
NRS 388.431 - Pupils not required to take advantage of special provisions for education.
NRS 388.433 - Placement of child in special program; effect of military transfer of parent of child.
NRS 388.435 - Ages for admission to special programs; enrollment counted for apportionment.
NRS 388.439 - Pupils with dyslexia: Early literacy screening assessment.
NRS 388.453 - Special ungraded schools and programs; powers of trustees.
NRS 388.463 - Selection and compensation of hearing officers; appeal of decision of hearing officer.
NRS 388.469 - Authority of Department to issue subpoenas; enforcement of subpoena by court.
NRS 388.473 - "Aversive intervention" defined.
NRS 388.476 - "Chemical restraint" defined.
NRS 388.478 - "Corporal punishment" defined.
NRS 388.485 - "Electric shock" defined.
NRS 388.487 - "Emergency" defined.
NRS 388.491 - "Mechanical restraint" defined.
NRS 388.494 - "Physical restraint" defined.
NRS 388.495 - "Verbal and mental abuse" defined.
NRS 388.497 - Aversive intervention prohibited.
NRS 388.499 - Physical restraint and mechanical restraint prohibited; exceptions.
NRS 388.505 - Mandatory education and training for staff.
NRS 388.506 - Disciplinary action against person for intentional violation.
NRS 388.511 - Retaliation for reporting violation prohibited.
NRS 388.513 - Reporting of denial of rights; investigation and resolution of disputes by Department.
NRS 388.516 - "Individualized education program" defined.
NRS 388.5165 - "Individualized education program team" defined.
NRS 388.517 - "Individualized family service plan" defined.
NRS 388.5195 - Report concerning development of language and literacy skills.
NRS 388.5223 - Eligibility for benefits.
NRS 388.5239 - Priority of placement in homes or facilities located in this State.
NRS 388.5253 - Provision of education to gifted and talented pupils.
NRS 388.5257 - Pupils not required to take advantage of special provisions for education.
NRS 388.5259 - Placement of child in special program.
NRS 388.5261 - Age for admission to special programs; enrollment counted for apportionment.
NRS 388.5263 - Special ungraded schools and programs; powers of trustees.
NRS 388.532 - Development of programs.
NRS 388.537 - Alternative programs for pupils at risk of dropping out of school.
NRS 388.550 - Employment of teachers with approval of juvenile court and county commissioners.
NRS 388.560 - Courses of instruction; school district to furnish textbooks, equipment and supplies.
NRS 388.593 - Criteria for award of State Seal of Biliteracy.
NRS 388.5935 - Criteria for award of State Seal of Civics.
NRS 388.5945 - Criteria for award of State Seal of STEM.
NRS 388.5962 - Criteria for award of State Seal of Financial Literacy.
NRS 388.5964 - Establishment of Financial Literacy Month; regulations.
NRS 388.5968 - State Financial Literacy Advisory Council: Duties.
NRS 388.5975 - Criteria for award of State Seal of STEAM.
NRS 388.635 - Provision of services by center for displaced homemakers.
NRS 388.655 - Executive director for center; quarterly reports to Board.
NRS 388.785 - "Commission" defined.
NRS 388.787 - "Committee" defined.
NRS 388.788 - "Program" defined.
NRS 388.823 - "Course of distance education" defined.
NRS 388.826 - "Distance education" defined.
NRS 388.829 - "Program of distance education" defined.
NRS 388.834 - Publication of list of approved distance education courses.
NRS 388.850 - Eligibility for enrollment.
NRS 388.866 - Requirements of program; supervision by teacher; qualifications of certain teachers.
NRS 388.874 - Regulations of State Board.
NRS 388.887 - Development of curriculum regarding the Holocaust and other genocides; reports.
NRS 388.905 - Provision of information concerning importance of annual physical examination.
NRS 388.910 - Appointment and duties of school safety specialist.