Nevada State Sen. Barbara Cegavske (R-Las Vegas) has sponsored a bill (SB 158) which would authorize “the parents and legal guardians of certain pupils with disabilities” to choose a non-government school if they believe it would be best for their child, and have the money the state currently expends to educate that child be provided to the parent to pay tuition as a scholarship to that non-government school.
This bill would establish a several critically important principles and precedents regarding education in Nevada:
(A) That the government-school cookie-cutter monopoly system of education isn’t the best option for all children.
(B) That parents, not government, should make the decisions regarding the education and well-being of their children.
(C) That “public education” is not and should not necessarily mean “public schools.”
(D) That “public education” money should follow the student, not the other way around.
Naturally, the teachers union - always more interested in its dues-paying members than the welfare of students - vehemently opposes this bill. Anything which gives parents a choice in education rather than forcing kids into the government-run public school system is anathema to them.
In addition, the bureaucrats over at the Department of (Mis)Education are trying to torpedo Sen. Cegavske’s bill by falsely claiming it would cost them too much money to implement this teensy-tiny scholarship program - which, by the way, is modeled after a highly successful similar program in Florida called the “McKay Scholarships.”
The Ed-Shed’s red herring about “cost” has forced the bill - which passed the Education Committee last week - over into the Finance Committee, which will consider the bill next week. The Finance Committee could follow the Education Committee’s example and send the bill to the full Senate for a vote…or kill it.
Although Republicans have the majority and control the Finance Committee, it is by no means a slam dunk that SB 158 will pass there. So if you support the very concept of parental school choice, especially for special needs children, here’s what you can do to help move this bill forward…
1.) Let your own personal legislators know that you support this bill. Just click here to get to the Legislature’s “Share Your Opinion” webpage. Click on the drop-down button next to “Select Bill” and choose “SB158.” Then, next to “Your View,” click on “For.” If you’d like to add any specific comments regarding the bill, you may type those in the box to the right labeled “Any Comments?” Then simply enter your name and address and click on “Submit.”
2.) Let the members of the Finance Committee know that you support this bill, even if you don’t live in their district. A number of legislators (Assemblyman Mark Menendo, Las Vegas Democrat, immediately comes to mind) don’t particularly want to hear from voters who don’t live in their district; however, your particular senator may never even get a chance to vote on this bill if the Finance Committee doesn’t move it to the floor for a vote by the full Senate. So please take a moment to respectfully urge members of the Finance Committee, via phone and/or email, to support SB 158.
William Raggio - Chair
wraggio@sen.state.nv.us
Bob Beers - Vice Chair
bbeers@sen.state.nv.us
Dean A. Rhoads
drhoads@sen.state.nv.us
Barbara Cegavske
bcegavske@sen.state.nv.us
Bob Coffin
bcoffin@sen.state.nv.us
Dina Titus
dtitus@sen.state.nv.us
Bernice Mathews
bmathews@sen.state.nv.us
You can contact each of these senators toll-free by phone by calling (800) 978-2878 and asking the operator to connect you to their office.
Posted on April 19th, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
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