Angie Sullivan, second-grade teachers in Clark County, Nevada, wrote the following missive to the state’s legislators and journalists:
Behold! The Nevada Plan!
The national grade and the grades for individual states are based on three custom Research Center indices that look at the role of education in promoting an individual’s chance for success over the course of a lifetime; overall school spending and equity in funding across districts; and academic performance, including changes over time and poverty-based gaps.
It is not enough to pronounce Nevada failing.
Let us be frank about WHY!
Nevada’s education system is failing because 50% of the DSA is diverted to primarily white rural schools. This gives 25% of Nevada’s children adequate funding for public education.
Many rural areas also benefit from mining proceeds which cannot be accessed by the south.
Oddly enough a large percentage 25% of the lowest performing list are rural schools.
75% of Nevada’s children are in the south. They must make do with 50% of the DSA. The south serves more poor, disenfranchised, and language learners than any other area.
Only 1% of CCSD’s schools are on the lowest performing list. CCSD actually does better than the rest of the state when comparing the overall numbers with significantly less funding. The problem is that 1% in Vegas is a huge number. And it is the poor and already suffering who have no schools without teachers.
The point is: CCSD is actually very effective with 99% of it’s kids. Better than the rest of the state with significantly less money.
Southern caucus – your children need you to advocate and fight for them.
The answer will never be charters or forcing a Vegas public schools from the middle of a “list” to be a charter. Especially when the ASD states it will not take over a rural school or a charter even though they compose 50% of the lowest performing list. That does not solve the main funding issues. It keeps us last.
If Nevada wants to get off these lists: They need to solve the real problem.
Please write your legislator.
http://mapserve1.leg.state.nv.us/whoRU/
Ask them to fight for Vegas kids.
We cannot continue to rank last because we have built systems which favor some at the detriment to others.
This funding issue and this system developed in the 1960s has got to go.
Southern Caucus: You have a common cause. Please put your differences aside and work together for Vegas kids. We applaud your efforts last session under Republican leadership. We are expecting some leadership this session from the Democrats.
O God hear the words of my mouth. Let our representatives work on issues which will help us make progress. Hold Vegas children in Your Hand.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
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