LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada lawmakers will hold another hearing Wednesday evening on a bill introduced by Governor Joe Lombardo, which hopes to expand school choice across the state.
Assembly Bill 400 would create an Office of School Choice that’s meant to educate families on their options. The bill would also allow charter schools to apply for public funding to bus children to their campuses.
Opportunity scholarships would also be expanded under AB400. Currently, families making less than $90,000 a year can access tax dollars to attend a private school of their choice, and AB400 would expand that to include families making $150,000 or less.
However, officials say the scholarship money would be capped at 5% of the state’s education funding.
Valeria Gurr, the creator of the American Federation for Children, plans to testify in Wednesday’s hearing in support of the bill, saying it would help low-income families who may face language or education barriers. She tells Channel 13 it's important that parents are able to move their children out of schools that aren’t a good fit.
“If they don’t have money they are subjected to those circumstances,” said Gurr. “It’s very near and dear to my heart. I feel so mad and angry that in many cases, communities like mine don’t have an option because they don’t have means to defend themselves and their kids have to be bullied and endure the circumstances of a system that constantly fails them.”
Opponents of the bill say we shouldn’t be using tax dollars for private schools and instead use that money to improve public schools.
Kamilah Bywaters, President of the Las Vegas Alliance of Black School Educators, says she’s concerned families are being misled.
"We’re seeing a more diverse cultural community within our schools. It makes you wonder what really is the reason for wanting to leave your community?” Bywaters said. "It’s very concerning to me that there’s this push to drive our families to charter schools that have not shown they’re doing a better job than traditional public schools.”
The hearing is set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26.
