Nevada, the Great Recession, and Education

Overview & Synopsis

The impact of the Great Recession and its aftermath has been devastating in Nevada, especially for public education. This article discusses the budget shortfalls and the impact of the economic crisis in Nevada using case study methodology. It provides a review of documents, including Governor Gibbon's proposals for the public K-12 education system and the Nevada state higher education system (NSHE) for 2009-2011, together with the legislative response. It then outlines Governor Sandoval's 2011-2013 budget proposals and responses from the NSHE and K-12 public education in the state in the two largest cities, Reno and Las Vegas. The final section includes an update to the tumultuous years of uncertainty in Nevada, with the surprising Nevada Supreme Court decision that waylaid a budgetary impasse. Data sources included documents available in the field and participant observation. When possible, data were triangulated to identify trends and outcomes. The focus throughout was on education finance in school districts and higher education institutions, and how they were affected. (Contains 5 tables and 55 endnotes.)