AB 286 — Provides for a pilot program to assess the competency of applicants for a license to teach through alternative assessment methods. (BDR 34-836)

EXEMPTAssembly (ReprintedBill withNo. amendments adopted on April 21, 2025) FIRST REPRINT A.B.

286286–Assemblymembers ATorres-Fossett SSEMBLYand BGonzález ILLNCHAPTER.......... O.

286–ASSEMBLYMEMBERS T ORRES -FOSSETT AND GONZÁLEZ FEBRUARY 25, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Education SUMMARY—Provides for a pilot program to assess the competency of applicants for a license to teach through alternative assessment methods.

(BDR 34-836) FISCAL NOTE:

Effect on Local Government:

No.

Effect on the State:

Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget.

~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Existing law creates the Commission on Professional Standards in Education and requires the Commission to adopt regulations prescribing the qualifications for licensing teachers and other educational personnel.

(NRS 391.011, 391.019)391.019)tions for Existing law additionally requires the Commission to adopt regulations governing examinations for the initial licensing of teachers and other educational personnel.

(1) completed the “Principles of Learning and Teaching Test” prepared and administeredwith byan endorsement in an area for which training in the Educationalprinciples Testingand Service;methods of teaching is not required.

or(NAC (2)391.036) isSection applying1 of this bill provides that the regulations adopted by the Commission must also authorize an applicant for aan initial license to teach to be exempt from the requirement to pass a competency test in the principles and methods of teaching isif nothe required.or she satisfactorily completes the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this bill.

(NAC 391.036) Section 1 of this bill provides that theof - *AB286_R1* – 2 –authorizes regulationsinstitutions adoptedwithin by the CommissionNevada mustSystem alsoof authorizeHigher anEducation applicant for an initial license to teachestablish to be exempt from the requirement to pass a competency test in the principles and methods of teaching if he or she satisfactorily completes the pilot program establishedto pursuantoffer toan sectionalternative 2pathway offor thisassessing bill.methods.

Section 2 authorizes institutions within the Nevada System of Higher the competency of prospective teachers through the use of alternative assessmentsing methods.

and (2)(2)ment provides that the pilot program must select not more than 100 participants each academic year during the duration of the program;

extendFor thea deadlineparticipant forin successfullythe passingpilot aprogram, competencysection test,2 whichrequires isthe requiredDepartment to receiveextend anthe initialdeadline licensefor tosuccessfully teach,passing for a periodcompetency oftest, 24which monthsis afterrequired heto or she is selected to participate in the program, thereby allowing the participant to use his or her satisfactory completion of the pilot program to satisfy by exemption the requirement to complete certain competency tests.

(1) an annual progress report regarding the pilot program to the Commission, the State Board of Education and Standingthe CommitteeDirector of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for distribution to the Joint Interim - 83rd Session (2025) – 2 – cessation of the pilot program, a report to the Department on Education;the success of the pilot program and a plan for its broader implementation.

and (2) not later than 6 months after thent Interim cessation of the pilot program, a report to the Department on the success of the pilot program and a plan for its broader implementation.

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

(a) Basic reading, writing and mathematics if the applicant submits to the Department evidence that [,] at any time before or - *AB286_R1* – 3 – after [not passing] completing a competency test in basic reading, writing and mathematics at the level of competence specified by the Commission, the applicant began and completed, with a grade of B or better, a course of study approved by the Department in eacheachB subject area of the competency test that the applicant did not pass at the level of competence specified by the Commission.

Sec.- 83rd Session (2025) – 3 – System of Higher Education may establish and operate a pilot program to offer an alternative pathway for assessing the competency of applicants for a license to teach pupils in this State through the use of alternative assessment methods.

1.

One or more institutions within the Nevada System of Higher Education may establish and operate a pilot program to offer an alternative pathway for assessing the competency of applicants for a license to teach pupils in this State through the use of alternative assessment methods.

2.

(b) Select not more than 25 teachers licensed pursuant to chapter 391 of NRS who have taught in a public school in this State for at least 5 years to serve as mentors for participants in the pilot program;

(c) Include a curriculum of professional development for participants in the pilot program that consists of at least 10 sessions and is aligned with the criteria for designating a teacher as effective or highly effective under the statewide performance evaluation system established by the State Board of Education pursuant to NRSNRS(d) 391.465;Require, for the duration of the pilot program, a teacher selected to serve as a mentor pursuant to paragraph (b) to conduct a monthly meeting with each participant who is assigned as his or her mentee;

(d) Require, for the duration of the pilot program, a teacher selected to serve as a mentor pursuant to paragraph (b) to conduct a monthly meeting with each participant who is assigned as his or her mentee;

- *AB286_R1* – 4 – (f) For alternative assessment methods, assess the validity and reliability of the methods and ability of the methods to be scaled to accommodate a greater number of participants;

(g) Promote assessment practices that are inclusive and equitable and that support a diversity of learning styles and experiences;exp(h) Align alternative assessment methods with applicable state standards, requirements for accreditation and the needs of school districts in this State;

(h) Align alternative assessment methods with applicable state standards, requirements for accreditation and the needs of school districts in this State;

(a)- A83rd provisionalSession license(2025) issued– by4 – Instruction pursuant to NRS 391.032;by the Superintendent of Public Instruction(b) pursuantA tospecial NRSlicense 391.032;as an emergency substitute teacher issued by the Department of Education;

(b) A special license as an emergency substitute teacher issued by the Department of Education;

(b) Upon successful completion of the pilot program by a participant who holds a provisional license issued by the Superintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to NRS 391.032, remove any provision on the provisional license issued to the applicant which requires the applicant to pass a competency test in the principles and methods of teaching.

- *AB286_R1* – 5 – (II) The success of professional development services provided by the pilot program;

(I) The Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for distribution to the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education;

- 83rd Session (2025) – 5 – (1) A plan for implementing the pilot program in a permanent format that can accommodate all prospective applicants that describes the structure and curriculum of the pilot program;

6.