1. The State Board shall develop nonbinding recommendations for the ratio of pupils per licensed teacher and specialized instructional support personnel in the public schools of this State for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. The board of trustees of each school district shall consider the recommendations in establishing the ratio of pupils per licensed teacher or specialized instructional support personnel, as applicable, in the school district.
2. The recommendations developed by the State Board must:
(a) Prescribe a suggested ratio of pupils per licensed teacher for each classroom and course of instruction, except choir, orchestra and band, in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive;
(b) Prescribe a suggested ratio of pupils per each type of specialized instructional support personnel for each kind of public school described in NRS 388.020;
(c) Be based on evidence-based national standards; and
(d) Take into account the unique needs of certain pupils, including, without limitation, pupils who are English learners.
3. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to relieve a school district of its obligation to comply with the requirements of NRS 388.700 and 388.720, as applicable to the school district.
4. Not later than 30 days after the beginning of each school year, the board of trustees of each school district shall post on an Internet website maintained by the school district the ratio of pupils per licensed teacher that has been approved for each class in the district.
5. The board of trustees of each school district shall develop a 15-year strategic plan to achieve the ratio of pupils to specialized instructional support personnel in the district.
6. As used in this section:
(a) "English learner" has the meaning ascribed to it in 20 U.S.C. § 7801(20).
(b) "Specialized instructional support personnel" includes persons employed by each school to provide necessary services such as assessment, diagnosis, counseling, educational services, therapeutic services and related services, as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1401(26), to pupils. Such persons employed by a school include, without limitation:
(1) A school counselor;
(2) A school psychologist;
(3) A school social worker;
(4) A school nurse;
(5) A speech-language pathologist;
(6) A school library media specialist; and
(7) Any other qualified professional.
(Added to NRS by 2017, 1158; A 2019, 980, 3233)