Lawmakers must allow Nevada businesses to continue helping low-income students

Earlier this week, 8NewsNow showcased the enormous benefits from Nevada’s Opportunity Scholarship program — and the tremendous harm that would come if the state teachers’ union gets its way and successfully lobbies for the program’s elimination next year.

150 valley children of all ages, most of whom reside in low-income families, were granted “life-changing” scholarships thanks to a more than $1 million donation from the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

Sadly, the opportunity for businesses to make similar donations will be severely restricted next year, absent legislative action.

The Cosmo’s donation was only made possible because of the Opportunity Scholarship Program — which allows Nevada businesses to fund scholarships in exchange for tax credits.

Unfortunately, there is a strict limit on the total amount of donations that can be made each year. And that limit is set to drop by roughly 65 percent next year — forcing hundreds of students like those featured in the 8NewsNow report off of their scholarships, just a year or two after they made the transition to a school that finally meets their needs.

Why would the Legislature want to restrict such an obvious win-win program? Politics.

The state teachers’ union — which has gone on record as wishing to see the program abolished outright — is fiercely opposed to any educational options that do not align with its political agenda.

So if you’d like to see more stories like the one above, where Nevada businesses are encouraged to give back to the community by providing scholarships for low-income children, it’s imperative that the Legislature stand up for children and expand the program’s scope, not slash it.

And to learn more about this program, please visit SchoolChoiceNV.com.