Policy Papers

Effective Teacher Pathways Programs

Peter D. Wiens, Ph.D.

Volume 5, Issue 4

This policy paper investigates research on teacher preparation programs and state licensure assessments, examining whether traditional or ARL programs produce more effective teachers, the state of online teacher preparation programs, and the efficacy of portfolio assessment vs. licensure exams.

Homegrown Teacher Pathways: A Review of Promising Practices Related to T/T CTE

Volume 5, Issue 3

This policy paper examines the rationale for, and implementation of, one of the recommendations from the June 2022 Nevada Department of Education report for recruiting, preparing, and retaining teachers: expanding Teaching and Training Career and Technical Education (T/T CTE) programs.

Addressing the Teacher Shortage: The Nevada Educator Preparation Institute & Collaborative (NV-EPIC) as Educator Preparation Accompaniment

Nate Koerber, Ph.D., Noah Romero, Ph.D., Gina Delgado, Ph.D., and Kenneth Varner, Ph.D.

Volume 5, Issue 2

This policy paper presents initial Nevada Educator Preparation Institute & Collaborative (NV-EPIC) policy thinking that focuses on NV-EPIC’s programming. Early successes indicate that through Department of Education regulations, NV-EPIC’s model may mitigate teacher shortages while amplifying the diversification of the teacher workforce.

Making Nevada Schools Safer: The State of Empirical Evidence

Jacob D. Skousen, Ed. D.

Volume 5, Issue 1

This policy paper reviews the trends taken to improve school safety. While individual measures, such as school resource officers (SROs) or controlled access to schools, inconclusively impact physical and perceptual components of school safety, research suggests a comprehensive safety plan can create safe, secure schools. It concludes with evidence-based actions that Nevada lawmakers can take to improve school safety.