Running Head: NEVADA STATE CONSTITUTION 1

Brief Synopsis of the Education Article in the Nevada State Constitution

Kelli N. Robinson

EDU 210 Nevada School Law

Dr. Celia Isbell

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Court of Appeals

The Federal Court of Appeals for Nevada is the Ninth Circuit Court. Other states that fall

under their jurisdiction are Montana, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Hawaii, and

specific zones in California. The current Chief Judge for this circuit is Sidney Thomas (United

States Courts for the Ninth Circuit Website, n.d).

Section 1

The first section of Article 11 of the Constitution of the state of Nevada encourages

education of the citizenry and provides for a superintendent to oversee this action. The

constitution gives the legislature the responsibility of encouraging "by all suitable means the

promotion of intellectual, literary, scientific, mining, mechanical, agricultural, and moral

improvements." It also establishes the term of office and duties for the Superintendent (Pearson,

2011).

Section 2

Uniform system of common schools is addressed in Article 11, section 2 of the Nevada

State Constitution. Under this section schools must be established and maintained in each school

district at least six months of each year. Moreover, any public school that engages in sectarian

instruction may lose its funding from the state of Nevada (Pearson, 2011).

Section 3

Section 3 of the Education Article earmarks specific funds for the support of education in

Nevada. Specific lands either given to the state from the federal government or privately donated

for use in education must be used for educational purposes. Also, all fines that are collected

under the penal law of Nevada are to be used to support education. The last source of income is

any interest that is gained from the two sources listed above (Pearson, 2011).
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Section 4

This section provides for the establishment of a state university. It also places a Board of

Regents over the curriculum formulated for the university. Specific departments are required

within the university (i.e. agriculture, mining) (Pearson, 2011).

Section 5

The grade system, Normal school establishment, and teacher oaths are subscribed in

section 5 of Article 11. This section gives the state legislature power to establish schools and

universities with specific grades to define the levels of education. It also places educators under

the responsibility to support and defend the constitution of the United States and receive these

promises under oath. This oath is found in Article 15 of the Nevada constitution (Pearson,

2011).

Section 6

Financial support for education is mandated by Article 11, section 6 of the Nevada state

constitution. The article requires the legislature to appropriate money from the state general fund

for the support of education. It requires the legislature to have a two-year plan to provide for the

financial support of K-12 state schools (Pearson, 2011).

Section 7

This section was created to establish the original Board of Regents to oversee the state -

run university. It allowed the original board to be in position for four years after the enactment

of this section in the constitution. Upon expiration of the four years of service, this board would

define the responsibilities and election procedures for a new board (Pearson, 2011).

Section 8
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The original priorities of the funds for the state university are defined in this section.

First, the established Board of Regents was given the edict to ensure the Mining Department was

established and running smoothly. Next, Agriculture, Mechanic Arts, and Military tactics

departments were given priority of funding (Pearson, 2011).

Sections 9 & 10

Sectarian instruction such as religious teachings are prohibited in all public schools,

including college, established by the constitution. In addition, no public funds can be used for

religious instruction or promotion (Pearson, 2011). These sections support the constitutionally

established separation of church and state.

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References

Pearson (2011). Companion Website for School Law for Teachers: Concepts and Applications.

Retrieved from

http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_underwood_schoollaw_1/42/10992/2813970.cw/index.html.

United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit Website (n.d). Map of the Ninth Circuit. Retrieved

from https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/content/view.php?pk_id=0000000135.