Guidelines being developed for private school subsidies

Tue, Jun 30, 2015 (2:17 p.m.)

CARSON CITY — State Treasurer Dan Schwartz said he is taking an “expansive” approach to allow as many parents as possible to receive state aid to send their children to private or religious schools.

Initial guidelines were released today for complying with a law that provides about $5,700 in support for students to attend private or religious schools or for home schooling.

The law requires students be enrolled in a public or charter school for 100 days before they qualify for the grant. Enrollment in a public school does not include after-school programs or extracurricular activities.

If a student is absent more than 15 days from a public or charter school, the 100-day enrollment period starts over. Days missed for things such as a serious medical condition, a death in the family or other extraordinary circumstances may be waived.

“This law will change the educational landscape in Nevada,” said Schwartz, who is in charge of administering the program. He said his office has already had many inquiries about it.

The Office of the State Treasurer is working with the governor’s staff and the Nevada Department of Education to develop the guidelines.

Still to be developed are procedures to pay parents, prevent fraud and control the flow of money.

Republicans in the Legislature pushed through the bill, which provides a grant of 90 percent of a student’s basic public school support, which is $5,670 next school year and $5,734 in 2017. Parents of disabled children would get 100 percent funding.

Schwartz said he expects a lawsuit will be filed challenging public funds going to religious schools, but there seems to be no prohibition in the Nevada Constitution. “I think we will survive,” he said.

A public workshop has been set for July 16 in Carson City on the guidelines. Public hearings will be held in August.

Schwartz said the preliminary guidelines may be changed, based on input from the upcoming hearings.

The law doesn’t take effect until Jan. 4.

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