Projects and Initiatives

NIAE creates impactful educational practice in a collaborative environment that maximizes the talent of innovators through financial and technical support, sharing of ideas, and exploration of new ways to approach educational challenges.

Active Projects and Initiatives

IT Pipeline Program

UNLV’s IT Pipeline Program gives Nevada high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to develop skills in information technology, computer science, and cybersecurity. The yearlong program, which is funded through the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT), also connects students to local job opportunities and teaches them how to find and secure employment. As a part of this initiative, the institute aided in the development of the Tech Ready Rebels program- a year-long program that gives Nevada high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to develop skills in information technology, computer science, and cybersecurity. In addition to providing students with networking opportunities with future employers in the IT field, the program also teaches them skills around seeking and securing employment.

To learn more about the project, visit our Media Center.

Wraparound Services

The wraparound services project will see the Institute partner with several local community organizations to assess the impact of before- and after-school activities–like tutoring and homework assistance–on students. Partners include the City of Henderson’s Safekey programs and Communities In Schools (CIS) of Southern Nevada, who will be surveyed to determine what the needs are in those programs and what kinds of high-impact training tutors and program facilitators may need.

To learn more about the project, visit our Media Center.

National Board Certified Teachers

National Board Certification is a prestigious credential that empowers educators to elevate their teaching practice, advance their careers, and make a lasting impact on students and schools. Recognized nationwide, this certification equips teachers with advanced skills, opens doors to professional opportunities, and supports state licensure renewals and salary step increases. In Nevada, where only 4.86% of teachers are currently board-certified, initiatives like this project supported by the institute aim to increase this number by providing mentorship and support to educators navigating the rigorous certification process. With a focus on improving teacher retention and professional development, the project aims to systematically offer guidance and resources to help educators succeed in the process of becoming nationally board-certified teachers. By fostering a network of board-certified educators, this initiative not only recognizes the hard work of teachers but also strengthens Nevada’s education system for the future.

Past Projects

The Teacher Preparation Program: The Academy for Leadership and Licensure Innovations for Nevada (ALL-IN)

ALL-IN is an intensive Alternative Pathway to Licensure program (APL) for graduate students focusing on expanding and enhancing high-quality teacher preparation programs. ALL-IN’s dynamic model centers on a continuous improvement philosophy with program adaptations based on research-driven best practices and direct stakeholder input.

Inaugural Cohort – The initial 11-member cohort began their eight-week, bell-to-bell practicum teaching assignments at Paradise Elementary in the fall of 2021. Mentor teachers provided individualized coaching and monthly targeted professional development in response to student requests.

See the Project Outcomes

• Supporting Students
  • Tuition support and living stipend
  • Guided urban residency with embedded mentoring
  • Individualized advising and support
  • Personalized professional development
  • Summer school opportunities
• Fostering Mentors
  • Mentor teacher training and support
  • Mentor opportunities for course enrollment
• Improving Approaches
  • Research-based program adaptations
  • Advisory and stakeholder feedback
• Student Outcomes
  • Enhancing mentor teacher knowledge and skills in working with diverse students
  • Increasing diversity of teacher workforce and supporting teacher retention
  • Improving PK-12 student performance
• Teacher Preparation
  • Building teacher competency and confidence in the early stages of their careers
  • Improving instructional content and practice in teacher preparation programs
• Community Collaboration
  • Implementing shared decision-making throughout the program

Update: The program ended in July 2023, graduating eight students with a Master’s in Education. The students are completing their Nevada licensing requirements. Five participants are returning to teach at local CCSD schools for their second year. Three expect to start their first year teaching at local CCSD schools in the fall.

Many thanks to Paradise Elementary principal, Mrs. AnneMarie Stover, and all the dedicated mentor teachers who participated in the APL program for their continuous support of UNLV’s teacher preparation programs.

The STEM Co-Lab: Collaboration with Desert Research Institute

A collaborative partnership between the UNLV College of Education (COE), the Center for Mathematics, Science and Engineering (CMSEE), the Desert Research Institute (DRI), and the National Institute for the Advancement of Education (NIAE), the Nevada STEM Co-Lab project aimed to bridge formal and informal education in Nevada communities by providing access to formal and informal curriculum-centered STEM activities and training for educators.

The overall grant was created to support the development of the STEM Co-Lab, or the technology learning space in the Las Vegas DRI campus, as well as the development of 16 new Green Boxes covering Kindergarten through fifth grade. The Green Boxes are self-contained STEM Education kits, which include a curriculum unit and all supplies needed for a class of up to 40 students to engage in 3-4 weeks of lessons. The last component of the project included two professional development opportunities for teachers on the use of the Green Boxes.

Learn more about the outcome of this project, visit our Media Center.

Policy Issues in Nevada Education

The UNLV College of Education, along with the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment (CREA) and the National Institute for the Advancement of Education (NIAE), collaborated to publish a set of five policy papers and released a series of evidence reviews during the 2022-23 academic year, as part of their initiative called Policy Issues in Nevada Education. If you wish to know more about the results of this project, please visit Reports and Publications page.