The Washoe County School District recently released data showing nearly 40% of high school students are failing at least one subject, and almost a quarter are failing in two. Superintendent Kristen McNeill said on Friday that a significant number of students are failing even more than two classes. “14% of our students were failing three… [Read More]
Washoe and Clark Counties to provide free meals for all children through the end of 2020
The two largest school districts in Nevada are providing free meals to all children as of Tuesday, regardless of enrollment or eligibility for the free and reduced price meals program, and parents who have already paid will be getting that money back. The Washoe County School District (WCSD) began providing free meals on Sept. 29,… [Read More]
Education during COVID-19 discussed in first KUNR forum for Spanish speaking Nevadans
With the fall semester underway for public schools across the state, KUNR recently hosted a Facebook Live event in Spanish, with health and education experts, to answer community questions. Bilingual reporter Natalie Van Hoozer moderated the Q&A and spoke with KUNR’s Jayden Perez to recap the main takeaways from the discussion. Jayden Perez: Natalie, KUNR… [Read More]
Washoe County School District avoids setting a COVID-19 threshold for school closures
For weeks, community members have been asking the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees to set a threshold that would use specific metrics to determine if and when the district would stop in-person instruction during the pandemic. Some trustees said in a meeting Tuesday, September 8 they do not want to draw a hard… [Read More]
Special education faces additional challenges with in-person learning during COVID-19
Washoe County teachers and students are returning to school and trying to adapt to a new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. The district’s approach to reopening schools includes individualizing materials and maintaining social distance in the classroom, which might be uniquely challenging in special education classrooms. For confidentiality, the identity of the teacher interviewed for… [Read More]
WCSD will reopen with in-person, hybrid learning this fall
A looming decision on whether or not the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees would honor their plans to return to in-person learning in the fall was determined late Tuesday night. Students, teachers and supporting staff will be going back to school in person this fall. For weeks now, the Washoe County School District… [Read More]
Food insecurity grows in Northern Nevada months into the pandemic
Several months into the pandemic, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada is seeing record numbers of people using their food assistance services. With many food pantries housed in schools, food availability over the summer is different than during the rest of the year. Before the pandemic, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada served about 91,000 people a… [Read More]
Washoe County addresses some community concerns over plans to reopen schools
Parents, students and teachers voiced their concerns recently during a virtual chat about the Washoe County School District’s proposal to reopen schools this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal has now been sent to the Nevada Department of Education for final approval. Community members sent questions via email which district leaders answered during the… [Read More]
Washoe County School District announces proposals for the reopening of schools
During a nine hour marathon of a school board meeting, the Washoe County School District approved plans for the reopening of schools in the fall. Those proposals now head to the Nevada Department of Education for final approval. KUNR’s Stephanie Serrano breaks down the details. The school board voted to start the 2020-2021 school year… [Read More]
Impacts of distance learning on English learner students
There are around half a million students enrolled in Nevada public schools, and more than 14 percent of them are considered English-language learners. With schools around the country relying on distance learning to help mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, it’s unclear how the transition from in-person to online instruction affected those students. To… [Read More]