Guinn Center Newsletter July 2025
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A Note from Dr. Anna Colquitt, Esq.
Back-to-School Greetings from the Guinn Center!
The new school year is just around the corner and the Guinn Center remains focused on supporting students, educators, and policymakers through thoughtful research and recommendations. Serving as Director of Education Policy at the Guinn Center has been both a privilege and a rewarding experience. With a background in educational psychology and law, I’ve focused on research that supports data-driven policies to improve outcomes for Nevada’s students and educators.
This past legislative session marked a major milestone: SB 460 was signed into law, incorporating two of our key recommendations on accountability and reporting within the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan. We also tracked legislation on early childhood education, AI in schools, school funding, and career and technical education—all key areas aligned with our mission.
Unpacking Absenteeism
One of our most urgent projects has focused on chronic absenteeism, a growing issue that directly affects student achievement and well-being. I co-authored a research series with Macie Nielsen, a Boyd Law School extern, to explore the causes and consequences of this trend.
The numbers are stark. 23% of students nationwide were chronically absent in 2023–24—up 8% from 2018–19. In Nevada, that figure is even higher at 25.6%. Students with disabilities are 36% more likely to be chronically absent, and nearly one in four chronically absent students experience emotional or behavioral challenges.
Our research shows that absenteeism stems from a number of factors, including mental health, bullying, and school climate. Addressing absenteeism requires a collective effort—one that includes educators, families, policymakers, and students themselves.
Read the full series here:
Part I: Trends, Factors, and Policy Considerations
Part II: Intersections with Mental Health
Part III: School District Innovations
Looking Ahead…
Our team remains focused on important education topics. Here is an overview of our upcoming projects in the area of Education:
I’m partnering with Senior Education Researcher Todd Butterworth to closely analyze SB 460 and the role of AI in K–12 education. Additionally, I’m working with Pierron Tackes to develop an easy-to-understand guide on HIPAA and FERPA, and with UNR graduate student Jamiika Thomas on a 2026 report that looks at obstacles to accessing NSHE’s Native American Fee Waiver.
As education challenges evolve, so does our commitment to research that informs real solutions.
Best Regards,
Dr. Anna Colquitt, Esq.
Director of Education Policy
In the News
- Out of the frying pan, into the oven Guinn Center Board Member, Pat Hickey, sits down with Jill Tolles about what it means to lead from outside elected office in this op-ed featured in the Reno Gazette-Journal.
- Nevada schools received $700M from cannabis since 2018. It’s still a drop in the bucket. Policy experts say the tax revenue is "unequivocally" going to Nevada schools after lawmakers stopped funneling dollars to the state's rainy day fund.
- How much does Nevada spend per pupil — and how does it compare with other states? Nevada spends about $4,000 less than the national average per pupil, a gap that’s basically unchanged by the $2 nudge added to the state’s per-pupil base rate this year.
Thank You!
We cannot fulfill our mission—to advance evidence-based policy solutions for Nevada through research, public engagement, and partnerships—without you.
Please consider donating to the Guinn Center today.