NRS 385A.955. Plan to improve academic achievement of pupils enrolled in public elementary schools; performance assessment for certain principals; removal of certain principals from such positions [Effective July 1, 2026.]

1. 1. Each public elementary school shall prepare a plan to improve the academic achievement of pupils enrolled in the public elementary school and submit the plan to the Department and the board of trustees of the school district in which the public elementary school is located or, if the public elementary school is a charter school, the sponsor of the charter school. The plan must comply with the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, 20 U.S.C. §§ 6301 et seq., and include:

   1. (a) A 3-year strategic plan to advance the academic achievement of pupils;
   2. (b) Intermediary goals to be met after each school year for the period set forth in paragraph (a);
   3. (c) A plan that can be implemented by the public elementary school to hire teachers who provide direct instructional services; and
   4. (d) A plan to provide programs of remedial study in the subject areas of English language arts, mathematics and science to pupils in grades 1 to 5, inclusive, based upon the results of the examinations administered pursuant to NRS 390.105 and any examinations or assessments offered for the purpose of measuring the academic progress of pupils.

2. 2. Any goals developed pursuant to subsection 1 must include:

   1. (a) Goals for pupil growth and improvement in pupil achievement and proficiency in the academic subjects of English language arts, mathematics and science; and

   2. (b) A measurement of the number of pupils who have, for the subject areas described in paragraph (a):

      1. (1) Demonstrated progress towards proficiency; and
      2. (2) Achieved proficiency.

3. 3. The superintendent of schools of a school district and the sponsor of a charter school shall, for each public elementary school within the school district or sponsored by the sponsor, as applicable, that does not meet the goals set forth pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 in 3 consecutive school years:

   1. (a) Provide additional support for the administration of the school, including, without limitation:

      1. (1) Increased assistance and monitoring of school progress;
      2. (2) Instructional or academic support; and
      3. (3) Requesting guidance from the Education Service Center created by NRS 391A.800, which shall provide recommendations on strategies and interventions for school improvement.
   2. (b) Assess the performance of the principal of the public school and his or her responsibility for the failure of the school to meet the goals set forth pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1. The superintendent of schools of the school district or the executive director of the charter school may, to assess the performance of the principal pursuant to this paragraph, consider the rate of chronic absenteeism, as defined by the Department pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 392.150, at the public school. If the superintendent or executive director of the charter school determines that the principal is ineffective and responsible for the failure, the board of trustees must, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c), remove the principal from his or her position. A principal who is removed from his or her position pursuant to this paragraph may apply for another position within the school district or charter school, as applicable.
   3. (c) If the principal of the school is not removed from his or her position pursuant to paragraph (b), the principal must reapply to the board of trustees of the school district for his or her current position.

4. 4. A principal who is the subject of a performance assessment conducted pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 3 and is not removed from his or her position must:

   1. (a) Every 2 years after receiving the performance assessment, reapply for his or her current position. The principal must reapply for his or her current position pursuant to this paragraph for the duration of his or her employment as principal of the school that did not meet the goals set forth pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1.
   2. (b) Prepare and submit a report to the Department containing a plan for annual growth that describes any additional supports provided by the school district. The report must be submitted each school year in which the principal remains in his or her current position, unless the school to which the principal is assigned meets the goals in the plan prepared pursuant to subsection 1. The Department shall examine the plan submitted pursuant to this paragraph and determine any adjustments necessary for the school to meet the goals in the plan prepared pursuant to subsection 1.
5. 5. If the performance of the principal is assessed pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 3 as minimally effective or ineffective, the superintendent of schools of the school district or the executive director of the sponsor of the charter school, as applicable, shall prepare and submit a report to the Department containing a plan for annual growth that describes any additional supports provided by the school district or sponsor of the charter school and any recommendations from the Education Service Center created by NRS 391A.800. The report must be submitted each school year in which the principal remains in his or her position unless the school to which the principal is assigned meets the goals in the plan prepared pursuant to subsection 1. The Department shall examine the plan submitted pursuant to this subsection and determine whether any adjustments are necessary for the school to meet the goals set forth in the plan prepared pursuant to subsection 1.

(Added to NRS by 2025, 3342, effective July 1, 2026)