OUR RESEARCH

This policy report describes existing pathways preparing students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities for post-secondary opportunities, and identifies some of the barriers facing students as they prepare to transition to life beyond high school. This policy report concludes by offering a set of recommendations that the State’s decision makers, policy leaders, and agency officials may take under advisement.

The policy report identifies the transportation challenges or barriers faced by individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in Nevada, and provides recommendations that may be taken under advisement by decision makers and elected officials in the Silver State.

Nevada joined 31 other states (including the District of Columbia) that expanded Medicaid as of January 2017. The number of children and individuals without health insurance coverage has declined.

This policy report explores how states and school districts have implemented these financial incentive-based compensation plans, describes the current landscape in Nevada, and offers recommendations that may be taken under advisement by Nevada’s legislative leaders, policy makers, and education officials.

Question 3: The Energy Choice Initiative (ECI) is a statewide constitutional ballot initiative that was placed before Nevada’s registered voters on November 8, 2016. Question 3 seeks to amend the Nevada Constitution by adding a new section to its Declaration of Rights regarding the provision of electric utility service in the State.

This policy brief evaluates educational outcomes for high school students in care in Clark County School District, and offers several policy recommendations that may be taken under advisement by Nevada’s leaders.‍

In November 2016, voters in Nevada were asked to approve the Background Check Initiative, a statewide question to amend an existing Nevada law. This Fact Sheet provides a summary of the primary arguments for and against the Background Check Initiative and addresses some questions voters may have.

In Fiscal Year 2015, personnel costs accounted for 80 percent of Nevada’s $4.1 billion education budget. The policy report discusses instruction-related costs in Nevada, trends over time, and some of the drivers of personnel costs. It concludes by offering a series of recommendations for Nevada’s policy makers.‍‍

The Guinn Center has prepared a report on Nevada’s K-12 school facilities in which we describe school capital facilities and maintenance needs across the State, discuss financial drivers of school construction costs, and conclude by offering a series of recommendations.

This fact sheet provides information on the Medical Patient Tax Relief Act, a ballot question for the November 2016 election in Nevada. The measure seeks to provide a sales and use tax exemption for durable medical, oxygen delivery and mobility enhancing equipment. The fact sheet discusses the effects the initiative could have on state tax revenue, who in the state might benefit from the exemption, and how Nevada’s tax policy for these types of medical equipment compares with other states.

This Fact Sheet presents information about Washoe County Question 1 (WC-1), the proposed ballot initiative to increase the sales tax in order to generate revenue for the construction and maintenance of K-12 public school facilities in Washoe County. This Fact Sheet explains what will happen if Question 1 passes or fails to pass, and presents information about school facilities issues in Washoe County. (2016)

An initiative was placed on the ballot in November 2016 asking Elko County registered voters if they wish to tie fuel taxes to the inflation rate. This type of program is called Fuel Revenue Indexing (FRI). A “YES” vote means that FRI would be established for ten years (January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2026). A “NO” vote rejects the imposition of automatic inflation-adjusted increases to fuel taxes.

Voters in Nevada 2016 were asked to consider a measure to approve the regulation and taxation of recreational marijuana. This Fact Sheet presents arguments for and against the measure to Regulate and Tax Marijuana.

In December 2015, Governor Sandoval called a special session to consider a development incentive package for Faraday Future, which has decided to locate in North Las Vegas. The goal of this policy brief is to (1) identify best practices for crafting development incentive programs, and (2) offer a set of recommendationsfor improving Nevada’s return on investment (ROI) on the proposed Faraday Future incentive package. (2015)

The Clark County School District presented a reorganization plan to the Advisory Committee on Reorganization of CCSD on October 12, 2015.This infographic shows the demographic and educational equity implications of the proposal.

Existing demographic disparities should be addressed by the Advisory Committee that is developing a reorganization plan for CCSD. These maps illustrate demographic differences based on factors such as race, socioeconomic status, academic outcomes, school choice, age of facilities, teacher vacancies, and new teachers.

This policy report focuses on five critical issues the Advisory Committee should consider as it drafts the reorganization plan: community based communication, demographic and educational equity, funding equity, education facilities, and governance.

This policy brief recommends a framework for implementing these efforts in a comprehensive and integrated manner to maximize the impact on student achievement.

During the 2015-2017 Legislative Session, 1,013 bills were proposed. At last count, 474 bills had been approved by both Houses and 433 had been signed by Governor Brian Sandoval. The Guinn Center provides a summary of the major pieces of legislation in the Guinn Center’s five research areas. (2015)

In collaboration with other organizations, the Guinn Center contributed to a recent study examining the potential impact of full-day kindergarten on health outcomes: Full-Day Kindergarten in Nevada: A Health Impact Assessment (HIA).

Voter turnout in primary elections in Nevada has declined over the period 2010-2016. In 2010, voter turnout in the primary election was 30.1 percent; in 2016, it was 18.5 percent.