Governor Joe Lombardo of Nevada signed a bill funding K-12 education after the Legislature passed a complementary bill providing pay raises for charter school teachers. This move ensures equitable pay across public school teachers in the state. Senate Bill 500, covering public and charter schools in Nevada’s 17 counties, increases per-pupil funding to $13,889 in 2026 and $13,963 in 2027, though it remains below the national average of $17,000.
The education budget, a priority amidst lower-than-expected state revenue, includes maintaining $250 million in educator pay raises from the previous session. While some Republicans opposed the budget due to insufficient charter school raises, the budget bill passed the Assembly unanimously and the Senate along party lines.
The Nevada State Education Association criticized the minimal increase in per-pupil funding. Speaker Steve Yeager’s AB 398 addresses this by funding charter school raises and providing additional compensation for hard-to-fill teaching positions. This bill, co-sponsored by Assemblymember Gregory Hafen, commits $45 million in both 2026 and 2027 for these initiatives.
The Charter School Association of Nevada, led by Gil Lopez, praised the efforts towards funding equity. Yeager emphasized bipartisan cooperation in achieving these educational advancements, highlighting the importance of quality education access for all students.
Future legislative efforts will focus on combining Governor Lombardo’s and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro’s proposals into a comprehensive education reform bill aimed at enhancing accountability and transparency.