Assessing Gov. Joe Lombardo’s Education Achievements Amid Criticism

Governor Joe Lombardo focused heavily on education during his 2022 campaign, advocating for school choice expansion, enhanced accountability, and improved safety measures in schools. Since taking office, he has achieved several key objectives, securing a historic $2 billion increase in K-12 education funding, supporting school choice legislation, and reinstating a mandate for literacy advancement among third graders.

Despite these accomplishments, critics, including the Nevada State Education Association and various educators, have rated Lombardo’s educational policies poorly, pointing out inadequacies in per-pupil funding and his vetoes on bills related to free school meals and class size reductions. He has emphasized the challenges of reforming such a large system, yet maintains that his administration has made significant progress. Lombardo’s mixed success in expanding school choice and addressing literacy remains a contentious point as he campaigns for a second term.