Nevada Legislature passes new tax credit scholarship program

Bill awaits governor’s signature 

Washington, D.C. (April 7, 2015) – The American Federation for Children, the nation’s voice for educational choice, praises the Nevada State Senate for passing a bill to create the state’s first private school choice program. With an 11-9 vote, the Senate passed the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program, which will create a $5 million business tax credit to fund scholarships that will serve children from low-income families in the state. On Friday, the State Assembly passed the same bill.
“Nevada is on the verge of joining the education revolution by empowering parents with access to more quality educational options,” said Betsy DeVos chairman of the American Federation for Children. “We would like to thank Gov. Brian Sandoval, Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson and all the members of the legislature who stood-up to the status quo and embraced educational choice.”
The Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program will create a tax credit scholarship program serving students from low-income families. The program will provide up to $7,755 in scholarship funds for students to attend the private school of their parents’ choice.
The Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program now awaits Gov. Sandoval’s signature.
The American Federation for Children is also working to pass an education savings account (ESA) program in Nevada. Senate Bill 302 would allow Nevada parents to use an ESA to customize their child’s learning experience to meet their child’s unique needs.
In addition to Nevada, new educational choice programs have been passed by the legislatures in Arkansas and Mississippi, each awaiting their governor’s signature.

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American Federation for Children is the nation’s leading school choice advocacy organization and works in states across the country to help secure additional, high-quality educational options for families.