A Message from CCSD on Fall 2026 Budgets

Like school districts across the country, the Clark County School District (CCSD) is facing huge budget pressures due to declining student enrollment and increased staff compensation.

Here is a breakdown of what is happening, how it impacts funding, and how emergency state aid will be used:

Student Enrollment Is Dropping

For the 2026–2027 school year, CCSD's enrollment dropped much faster than expected. The sharpest declines are in kindergarten and 1st grade, driven by:

• Lower birth rates

• Fewer families moving to Clark County

• Increasing competition for students

In Nevada, school districts are paid based on the number of students they serve. Therefore, declining enrollment means less money in the budget:

• Statewide: Nevada districts and charter schools are serving about 12,000 fewer students in the 2026-2027 school year than the previous year.

• Clark County: CCSD’s enrollment declined by 10,400 students compared to the 2025–2026 school year.

• Funding Reductions: 10,400 fewer students results in an approximate $100 million drop in state funding for CCSD.

To prevent mid-year staff layoffs, Governor Lombardo and the Nevada Department of Education issued an emergency order providing short-term funding relief from October 2026 through February 2027.

How CCSD Will Use the Emergency Funds

The emergency order specifies that these funds must be used to support students and protect jobs this school year. CCSD has set three main goals for the funding:

1. Restore staff positions eliminated during fall budget cuts (except where extreme enrollment declines make reinstatement not feasible).

2. Restore support staff the hours that were previously reduced back.

3. Use 100% of the emergency money directly on staff and students this school year.