Request to Amend Accountability Plan – New York- NCLB Policy Letters to States
July 2, 2010
The Honorable Keith W. Rheault
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Nevada Department of Education
700 East 5th Street
Carson City, Nevada 89701-5096
Dear Superintendent Rheault:
On behalf of Secretary Duncan, I want to thank you for your hard work in implementing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). I am writing in response to Nevada’s request to amend its state accountability plan under Title I of the ESEA. Following discussions between the Department and your staff, you made a change to Nevada’s accountability plan, which is now included in the amended plan that Nevada submitted to the Department on May 11, 2010. I am pleased to approve Nevada’s amended plan, which we will post on the Department’s website. A summary of Nevada’s amendments is enclosed with this letter. As you know, any further requests to amend Nevada’s accountability plan must be submitted to the Department for review and approval as required by section 1111(f)(2) of Title I of the ESEA.
Please also be aware that approval of Nevada’s accountability plan for Title I, including the amendment approved herein, does not indicate that the plan complies with Federal civil rights requirements, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
I am confident that Nevada will continue to advance its efforts to hold schools and school districts accountable for the achievement of all students. If you need any additional assistance to implement the standards, assessment, and accountability provisions of the ESEA, please do not hesitate to contact (Vicki.Robinson@ed.gov) or (Sharon.Hall@ed.gov) of my staff.</p.
Sincerely,
Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana, Ph.D.
Enclosure
cc: Governor Jim Gibbons
Carol Crothers
Diane Mugford
Steven Ross
Amendments to Nevada’s Accountability Plan
The following is a summary of Nevada’s amendment requests. Please refer to the Department’s website (http://www.ed.govhttps://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/index.html) for Nevada’s complete accountability plan.
Acceptable amendments
The following amendments are aligned with the statute and regulations:
Exit criteria for limited English proficient (LEP) students in adequate yearly progress (AYP) determinations (Elements 5.4)
Revision: Nevada updated its accountability workbook to include its exit criteria for LEP students. LEP students must achieve an overall score of proficient (Level 5) on the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) to be considered proficient and exit the English Language Learners (ELL) program.
