Nevada launches first statewide organ donation curriculum for schools

The Nevada Donor Network and the Nevada Department of Education have unveiled the state’s first comprehensive curriculum focused on organ, eye, and tissue donation for middle and high school students. This initiative fulfills a 2017 mandate under Nevada Revised Statutes 389.021, requiring these topics in health education classes.

The curriculum, now available to over 260 schools across Nevada, offers educators up-to-date statistics, insights into the donation process, and stories from local donors and recipients. Tyre Gray, chief administrative and legal officer for Nevada Donor Network, said, “Through this groundbreaking partnership between Nevada Donor Network and the Nevada Department of Education, Nevada’s students and teachers now have access to a statewide curriculum that inspires awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation — empowering a new generation to embrace the gift of life.”

Accessible via Canvas, a widely used online learning platform, the curriculum aims to guide students in making informed decisions about registering as donors when visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles. Jhone Ebert, Superintendent of Public Instruction, said, “Here at the Nevada Department of Education, we are thankful for the partnership with the Nevada Donor Network to ensure that students have access to information about organ, eye, and tissue donation to help them make an informed decision.”

The curriculum includes detailed coverage of the donation process, the impact of donated organs, tissues, and corneas, registration methods, societal benefits, and addresses common myths and misconceptions. It features downloadable pamphlets in English and Spanish, donor family and recipient impact videos, quizzes, peer discussions, and a group game for interactive learning.

As Nevada’s sole statewide organ procurement organization, the Nevada Donor Network is committed to providing accurate information and resources to educators and students. The Nevada Department of Education has worked diligently to equip teachers with the necessary tools to meet health education requirements.

Currently, more than 100,000 Americans, including nearly 700 Nevadans, are on the national organ transplant waiting list. One donor can potentially save up to eight lives through organ donation, heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation, and help restore sight to up to two people through cornea donation.