CCSD partners with UNLV to address special education staffing around district

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Clark County School District announced Friday a collaboration with UNLV to address special education staffing.

This collaboration has resulted in the placement of more than 70 teachers in special education classrooms around the district. The highlight of the announcement is a new graduate certificate program called the Nevada Collaborative on Autism and STAR endorsement. This program is a partnership involving CCSD’s Student Services Division and the UNLV Department of Early Childhood, Multilingual, and Special Education.

According to CCSD, funding for the program comes through the Nevada Recruitment and Retention Grant.

“Every family deserves to know that their child has a highly effective licensed teacher in their classroom,” said CCSD Superintendent Jhone Ebert. “Our collaboration with UNLV is creating a sustained pipeline of certified educators to serve our special education students. We are deeply grateful to the UNLV College of Education for this innovative program, which takes an essential step toward overcoming our shortage of special education teachers.”

“This program is already enhancing instructional support in autism and STAR classrooms,” explains College of Education Dean Danica G. Hays. “We’re excited to be making strides to support student success.”

With the grant funding, current CCSD teachers with general elementary or secondary licenses can earn approximately $6,000 in tuition and fees if they agree to spend three years in a STAR classroom. Teachers who hold a current general special education license are also eligible if they agree to the three-year period.

CCSD says the program has already brought 71 teachers into autism and STAR classrooms for this school year, and a second group of 31 teachers are already enrolled.

The NCASE program is scheduled to welcome its third cohort in Spring 2026.

Interested educators can contact the UNLV College of Education at (702) 895-3329. To learn more about the UNLV Department of Early Childhood, Multilingual, and Special Education, visit unlv.edu/ems.

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