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Gov. Joe Lombardo introduced on Friday his plan to fund Alternative Scholarships by utilizing unallocated federal COVID-19 funds.
The governor’s workplace is in search of about $3.24 million in federal assist that may go towards the academic alternative scholarship program to “stop a whole lot of Nevada faculty youngsters from being kicked off their Alternative Scholarships,” the workplace stated in a press release.
The Governor’s Finance Workplace submitted the proposal to the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee, which has 15 days to take motion or it is going to be deemed permitted. The committee’s subsequent assembly is Aug. 9, when it may take up the problem.
The Instructional Alternative Scholarship Program, which was established in 2015 and is also referred to as the Alternative Scholarship, gives need-based scholarships for college kids to use towards tuition, charges and transportation prices to attend personal faculty, based on the Nevada Division of Training.
Through the legislative session, Lombardo fought with Democratic legislative management for Alternative Scholarships, threatening to veto budget-related payments if the Legislature didn’t prioritize his agenda, together with his sweeping schooling invoice that will have given more cash for Alternative Scholarships. Whereas that invoice did move, the scholarship portion didn’t make it by.
“I’ve been combating for these youngsters since I took workplace,” Lombardo stated within the assertion. “The Democrats within the Legislature refused to fund these scholarships, and the result’s that except we take motion now, these youngsters can be pressured out of their faculties for the upcoming faculty 12 months. It’s unacceptable to me to let that occur.”
Amy Stephenson, the director of the Governor’s Finance Workplace, stated within the assertion that utilizing the COVID-19 funds on this means “is absolutely compliant with the ultimate federal guidelines and is in keeping with how these funds had been allotted beneath the prior administration.”
Annette Magnus, former govt director of Battle Born Progress, stated this allocation is losing taxpayer cash from the federal authorities on “a program for spiritual, personal faculties for teenagers who can afford it.”
She criticized Lombardo for allocating funds to this program whereas blocking laws to offer free faculty lunches for teenagers.
“I discover it to be a slap within the face to public schooling,” Magnus stated. “I’m just a little shocked by this. I hope the Interim Finance Committee will look into this.”
Contact Jessica Hill at jehill@reviewjournal.com. Comply with @jess_hillyeah on Twitter.
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