UNLV Professional Judgement Study

Prepared for the Lincy Institute at University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2015

Augenblick, Palaich & Associates (APA) conducted a professional judgment study for the Lincy Institute to estimate the funding Nevada schools need to help all students meet state standards. APA convened panels of Nevada educators to design resource models for representative schools, considering both base costs and additional needs for English learners, at-risk students, and students with disabilities. The models included detailed staffing, class sizes, support services, and technology needs. APA then calculated the cost of these models and found that actual spending in Nevada fell significantly short by about $3,850 per student. The study recommended a weighted funding formula based on these findings to more equitably and adequately support student learning across the state.