Senate approves bill for private school vouchers

The Nevada Senate narrowly passed a bill on Wednesday paying approximately $5,000 to any family who pulls their child out of public school to attend private or home school.

Marking one of the nation's most extreme shifts toward school choice, Senate Bill 302 gives Nevada families unprecedented control over the state's taxpayer money used to educate their children. Any parent could either keep their children in public school or leave and take the state's education funding with them. The money could be used on any private school — including religiously oriented schools — or homeschooling.

Up until now, students who choose private school don't get a dime.

Under SB302, students in poverty or special education would get 100 percent of the average state education funding, while all other students would receive 90 percent. At Nevada's current funding rate to local public schools, most families would receive about $5,000 per child who opts out of public schools.

Read the rest at: http://www.rgj.com/story/news/education/2015/05/27/senate-approves-bill-private-school-vouchers/28048007/