Action taken on No Child Left Behind

Monday, June 2, 2003 | 11:21 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- The Assembly Ways and Means Committee this morning approved a modified version of the No Child Left Behind measure and voted to add back provisions governing the state's math proficiency test.

Senate Bill 191, which implements the federal No Child Left Behind Act in Nevada, was amended to delete all sections that are not federal mandates.

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, also added a modified form of language contained in her Assembly Bill 179, which had called for a two-year moratorium on the state math proficiency test. AB179 was not processed by the Senate.

The language added to SB191 -- a key bill related to the school budget -- would require high school seniors to take the 1999 version of the math proficiency test until the current test is audited for any deficiencies. The test was toughened for this year's graduating class, based on standards passed in the 1998 Legislature.

SB191 was headed to the full Assembly late this morning for approval and must go back to the Senate for concurrence on the amendment before tonight's midnight adjurnement.

SB191 includes $6.8 million in state funds in 2004 and another $5.9 million in funds in 2005. No Child Left Behind is the federally mandated school accountability measure which includes testing of students, reporting of scores and remedial help for schools with repeat failure.