Las Vegas, Nev. – As the school year begins for Clark County students, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined higher education advocates, apprentice teachers, and students to highlight the Nevada Forward Initiative and their joint efforts to train more Nevada teachers, especially for the state’s growing English Learner (EL) student population. She also discussed her work delivering funding through the American Rescue Plan to support this teacher apprenticeship program and her bipartisan legislation to fund job training programs like Nevada Forward that will better prepare the next generation of EL educators.
“Nevada Forward is creating good-paying jobs while providing hands-on training for our state’s future teachers, and it was incredible to see its apprenticeship programs in action today,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’ll continue fighting to deliver critical resources like this one to create more jobs and help every student in Nevada succeed.”
“By taking an apprenticeship approach to workforce development, we’re removing barriers for individuals who are already committed to education in their communities across the state,” said UNLV College of Education Dean Danica Hays. “This program expedites teacher preparation without sacrificing quality and allows students to continue earning a paycheck while they learn. In addition, thanks to grant funding, our students have no out-of-pocket costs and can start their careers debt-free.”
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Nevada Forward Initiative is the first of its kind in the American West, and it allows paraprofessionals, substitutes, and other school staff to earn teaching degrees while employed. With 70% of participants from historically underrepresented backgrounds, this bench of new teachers will reflect Nevada’s diverse student body. It also offers training and accreditation in early childhood, special education, and K-12 education, strengthening the pipeline of qualified educators and providing in-demand career pathways. With a 95% program graduation rate, Nevada Forward has registered over 500 teacher apprentices and serves more than 1,100 students.
Approximately 14% of Nevada’s public school students are ELs. Spanish is the primary language for most EL students in Nevada, but other languages are also prevalent—such as Tagalog, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Cortez Masto’s bipartisan Reaching English Learners Act would create a competitive grant program to fund partnerships between institutions of higher education and high-need school districts to provide training for future instructors. Senator Cortez Masto has delivered critical support to students and schools across Nevada. Cortez Masto’s legislation to increase the number of mental health professionals in schools was included in the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law. In addition, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included three of Cortez Masto’s bipartisan bills to boost transportation safety for students, expand internet access for both rural and urban schools, and improve school air quality.
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