Nevada Educator Evaluation System Flexibility Determination Letter

December 8, 2013

Mr. Dale Erquiaga
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Nevada Department of Education
700 E. Fifth Street
Carson City, NV 89701

Dear Superintendent Erquiaga:

I am writing in response to Nevada’s request to amend its approved Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) flexibility request received on October 31, 2013. Specifically, Nevada requests that its local educational agencies (LEAs) have until the 2016–2017 school year to use the results of its teacher and principal evaluation and support systems, which include student growth as a significant factor, to inform personnel decisions. Nevada also requested additional amendments that are being considered separately.

After careful review, I am pleased to approve Nevada’s amendment. Please note that this amendment does not change the timeline for implementing teacher and principal evaluation and support systems that meet the requirements of ESEA flexibility. Consistent with Nevada’s approved ESEA flexibility request, Nevada must fully implement systems incorporating student growth no later than the 2014–2015 school year. However, with this additional flexibility, the LEAs in Nevada may have until the 2016–2017 school year to begin using the results of the new evaluation system to inform personnel decisions. Attached is an example of a teacher and principal evaluation and support system implementation schedule that would comply with the timeline permitted under this additional flexibility.

Nevada must make necessary changes to its ESEA flexibility request that are related to this amendment. Nevada may do so in the redlined request that it submits, as necessary, as part of the ESEA flexibility extension process or as part of any other changes approved to the ESEA flexibility request that require redlined changes.

I am confident that Nevada will continue to implement the reforms it proposed under its approved ESEA flexibility request and advance its efforts to hold schools and school districts accountable for the achievement of all students. If you need any additional assistance to implement your ESEA flexibility request, please do not hesitate to contact Leslie Clithero at Leslie.Clithero@ed.gov.

Sincerely,

/s/

Deborah S. Delisle
Assistant Secretary

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Last Modified: 01/15/2014