1. The Department shall establish a pilot program to provide competency-based education.

2. The State Board shall adopt regulations that prescribe:

(a) The process for submission of an application by the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school to participate in the pilot program; and

(b) The qualifications and conditions for participation by a school in the pilot program, including, without limitation:

(1) A commitment by the school district or charter school to implement competency-based education for not less than 5 years;

(2) Evidence of support for the implementation of competency-based education by the community served by the school district or charter school; and

(3) A commitment to participate in the Competency-Based Education Network established by NRS 389.220.

3. A school selected to participate in the pilot program to provide competency-based education shall:

(a) Implement a system of instruction by which a pupil advances to a higher level of learning when the pupil demonstrates mastery of a concept or skill;

(b) Establish concrete skills on which a pupil will be evaluated that include explicit, measurable and transferable learning objectives;

(c) Ensure that assessment is a meaningful and positive learning experience for pupils;

(d) Ensure that pupils receive timely and differentiated support based upon their individual learning needs; and

(e) Ensure that pupils are able to apply knowledge learned, create new knowledge and develop important skills and dispositions relating to such knowledge.

4. If at least one application to participate in the pilot program is made on behalf of a school that primarily serves pupils who are at-risk or credit deficient, or in need of credit retrieval, the Department must select at least one such school to participate in the pilot program.

5. As used in this section, a pupil is “at risk” if the pupil has an economic or academic disadvantage such that he or she requires special services and assistance to enable him or her to succeed in educational programs. The term includes, without limitation, pupils who are members of economically disadvantaged families, pupils who are English learners, pupils who are at risk of dropping out of high school and pupils who do not meet minimum standards of academic proficiency. The term does not include a pupil with a disability.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 3423)