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Gov. Brian Sandoval addresses the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011.
By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Published Monday, Feb. 28, 2011 | 2:49 p.m.
Updated Monday, Feb. 28, 2011 | 3:21 p.m.
Sun Coverage
CARSON CITY - After repeatedly emphasizing during his campaign that every Nevada child should have access to school choice, Gov. Brian Sandoval will propose a needs-based voucher program that will allow poorer families access to more money than families with a higher income.
Sandoval will seek a constitutional amendment — which would require the Legislature to pass it twice before it goes to a vote of the people — to implement the voucher program.
In new details released today, Sandoval’s senior adviser Dale Erquiaga said the program would award families a certain percentage of the per pupil funding given to public schools based on how close they are to the poverty line.
Erquiaga said the administration has not analyzed how much the program would cost.
“At this point, we don’t see much sense in talking about how many dollars will leave the system because they won’t leave the system for six years,” he said.
During the campaign, Sandoval’s opponent estimated a voucher program would cost about $100 million, based on the number of children currently enrolled in private schools.
“That number is a fallacy,” he said. “It won’t cost $100 million. That would assume every child currently in private school will take a voucher. Well, in our proposal they aren’t all going to be eligible.”
Erquiaga said he wasn’t sure the exact income level that would make a family ineligible for the voucher, saying it was either 300 percent or 400 percent of poverty. SEE UPDATE BELOW.
During the campaign, however, Sandoval was adamant that every child have access to voucher money.
“The great thing about this is everybody would be eligible for it,” he said during the campaign. “Every family, every parent would have the ability to decide where they will send their child to school. I think that’s extremely important.”
Erquiaga backtracked when a reporter asked about Sandoval’s campaign promise.
“Well, I think it will be,” Erquiaga said. “There’s some level where you’ll get the lowest amount possible based on the needs test.”
UPDATE: After the press conference, Erquiaga checked the language of the bill draft request submitted by Sandoval. Under that language, the highest income families would be eligible for vouchers worth 50 percent of the per pupil funding. No families would be ineligible for vouchers.
During the campaign, Sandoval's opponent estimated a voucher program would cost about $100 million, based on the number of children currently enrolled in private schools.
"That number is a fallacy," he said. "It won't cost $100 million. That would assume every child currently in private school will take a voucher. Well, in our proposal they aren't all going to be eligible."
Why wouldn't a family accept a voucher that would pay for part of the education a student receives in private school? Is Sandoval saying (proposing) that any family that makes 300-400% of the poverty level would not be eligible for a voucher?
Private schools are not required to accept low performing students. Only those students that can afford to pay and are reasonable performers will be at the private schools.
Sweet idea - but we can not afford to give away all that money to the illegals who mostly have low income and bunch of kids. Make sure we will have provisions to only provide such funds to legal residents. The time has come to terminate the collective bargaining by the illegals.
Gov. Sandoval's proposal exposes his school plan for what it is: another example of the Republican/Tea Party's effort to abolish any form of public service. It's time to fund education at a just level.
About time someone proposes something! I am sick and tired of the pubic educators stealing all available education dollars for themselves.
If I want a better education for my kids and am willing to pony up more of my money for it, then good for me. But the current system of my way or the highways (public education or your on your own) is union arrogance.
This would be good for everyone. Those willing to pay more for their own kids can do it And the public schools get to keep the change, literally!
I'm so glad to know that Gov. Sandoval wants to make sure that he and others like himself get their voucher to help them with the private schooling of their children. This is a great idea--take what little will be left of the money going to the public education system and give it to the wealthy. Great public policy--we should all be jumping on board!
"No families would be ineligible for vouchers."
That's REALLY, REALLY important; because this is ALL ABOUT B.S. and his pals getting a HUGE REBATE on the exclusive, private educations their kids are enjoying.
It will never change under Republican policy...
Take from the less fortunate and give to the wealthy, AND make it seem like YOU are getting in on the action...
B.S.!!!
Brian "El Caudillo" Sandoval will do everything possible to wipe out public education in Nevada. This voucher system that siphons money out of public education to subsidize the wealthy is but one more step. What next?
Another hand out to the rich, where are these private schools in ELY? etc. This guy is a pathological liar.
What about Jane Russel dying, that is more important.
Seriously? The State gives a little over $5K per student. If the state gives that to a poor family to go to Bishop Gorman, the family would have to still come up with another $5K to send their kids there. What poor family could come up with that? Face the facts, Governor... public schools, for all their faults, are a very cheap alternative to private schools. Believe me, if the CCSD got $10K per student, our results would be very, very different.
Sandoval's education plan:
1. Give out taxpayer dollars to the rich, cut education funding, while blaming teachers for everything.
2. ?????
3. Results!
TBvegas:
Go screw pal.
Public school teachers are hardworking professionals who don't deserve the ridicule and vitriol that people like you foist upon them. The public school system in this country worked for years until REPUBLICAN lawmakers (not trained educators) started fiddling around with the system. Now tea party extremists want to completely unravel the system under the guise of "educational reform."
Unionized teachers are the ONLY force that has maintained a true focus on education in this country. The politicians like Bush and Sandoval only want to look at numbers: Low cost vs. high test scores. That is not the way to advance education in this country. Instead of pushing for a race to the lowest common denominator with standardized testing benchmarks and hundreds of dollars per student in cutbacks, we should be heavily investing in our children as a commodity for the future.
Keep in mind by the way that your precious private schools can hire "teachers" who are not licensed or otherwise certified to provide classroom instruction to students. Personally, I'd rather have my kids go to a school where I know the faculty has job specific training and isn't just some cobbled together amalgamation of people that the private school owner "thinks" will be a good teacher.
Your tea party will be the undoing of every social construct that has made this country great, all under the banner of "cheaper for the taxpayer." The agenda is disgusting and the treatment of teachers by your cohorts is vile.
pure BULL$#!^!!!
brian sandoval is a complete and total fraud!!!
this is nothing but a charade...
it does not fix a damn thing...
it just kicks the can 6 years down the road...
pure bull$#!^...
brian sandoval is a complete and total fraud!!!
besides...
all the schools suck...
so essentially he is saying...
congratulations...
you just won a voucher to attend a less sucky school...
brian sandoval is a complete and total fraud...
who loves mining campaign contributions...
who defends prostitution...
but is intent on doing irreparable harm to the children of nevada...
brian sandoval is a complete and total fraud!!!
Get ready to say hello to our new educational overlords: an explosion of "private" schools that happen to charge exactly what the vouchers will pay. But there will be no union and no hiring standards. It should be profitable and successful enough in the short term to hide the total dismantling of public education.
Stick it to us, Sandy!
slick greasy brian sandoval...
a complete and total fraud...
a big toothed phony smiling huckster...
slick greasy brian sandoval...
the man will screw you right to your face...
and smile all the while...
smile brian...
flash those pearly whites pal...
smile...
as you do irreparable harm to the children of nevada...
SLICK GREASY BRIAN SANDOVAL IS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FRAUD!!!
slick greasy brian sandoval...
would rather screw the children of nevada...
than make mining and gaming pay their fair share...
than make mining and gaming pay an amount equal to that which they pay in other jurisdictions...
slick greasy brian sandoval...
A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FRAUD!!!
boy what a day...
steve wynn gets a million dollar raise...
and...
slick greasy brian sandoval puts forth a plan that will do irreparable harm to the children of nevada...
yee haa...
make no mistake boys and girls...
the time for egyptian style riots in the streets is close at hand...
very close indeed...
As soon as those kids miss 10 days of school in the semester then you pull the voucher and let them pay their own way.
Money will not fix the problem. Making parents take some interest in their children and their education will fix the problem.
You can not teach kids that do not show up for school.
As labor battles erupt in state capitals around the nation, a majority of Americans say they oppose efforts to weaken the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions and are also against cutting the pay or benefits of public workers to reduce state budget deficits, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
Sandoval needs to go back to school! He can't even read the New York Times.
California catches a "CHARTER" cheating on the mandatory tests.
Last year, administrators and teachers at the six schools south of downtown Los Angeles were caught cheating: using the actual test questions to prepare students for the state exams by which schools are measured.
Keystone - You are full of yourself and your union. If you would put 1/2 as much effort into teaching my kids I would not consider private school.
Here is what a good voucher program could do for us:
-A good percentage of us would send our kids to private schools and WE would make up the difference out of our own pocket. All you do gooders and libs that care so much about your precious money and how much we spend on education could count Nevada money (taxpayers money) AND my money as how much Nevada spends on education. Therefor education spending would go UP.
- The school district would probably need to sell some schools as they would not need as many - Thereby reducing cost in staffing, maint, buildings, utilities.....
- Transportation cost would go down as fewer would need it - We would get our kids to school ourselves
- Public education spending would go UP - - Yes UP. All you spend happy pubic educators would get to keep every dollar per pupil AND the half left on the table.
Pubic educations dollars would go UP and public education spending would go DOWN.
The big lie about vouchers is over!
Has he ever worked one day as a teacher? These kids RUIN good schools. I think any child from outside an area should be evaluated to see if they are able to learn in their "preferred" school of choice. The problem is that by attaching $7,000 to every child, this makes it harder for schools to kick the students who are creating a disruption. It's time to end that. It's also time to end compulsory schooling for children. This would save tax dollars and enable even urban school districts with minority children to properly educate their kids. Look at how much money is spent on security to keep these kids in line. Look at how much is spent on teachers who have entire classes who don't want to be in school. What is the point, if these kids aren't learning anything?
America needs to get real!
let birdie do some legal translation for you...
"constitutional amendment" means...
bend over and grab your ankles...
it is going to be real painful...
don't believe me...
taxation of mining is in a constitutional amendment...
enough said...
game, set, match!!!
there can be no doubt slick greasy brian sandoval's plan is pure bull$#!^...
on it's merits...
pure bull$#!^...
and...
it means that slick greasy brian sandoval won't have to do a damn thing for 6 years...
now...
ladies and gentlemen...
boys and girls...
i don't know if you have ever looked at slick greasy brian sandoval's resume...
but...
i don't think he has ever stayed anywhere for 6 years...
let's face facts boys and girls...
slick greasy brian sandoval is a complete and total fraud!!!
slick greasy brian sandoval...
supports prostitution...
hates education...
slick greasy brian sandoval...
IS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FRAUD!!!
If they are going to do this, it should be for ALL Nevadans and not based on income.
Not long ago the Republican Party believed in equal opportunity. This was stressed in the Republican oath that read in part: "I believe in equal rights and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex or national origin." The thought was that distinctions in social class and income could be tolerated so long as everyone had the same opportunities to promote themselves.
The Republican Party of the 80's and 90's would not even recognize Conservatives today. People like Sandoval shamelessly promote policies that benefit only the rich. By killing public schools, eliminating affordable higher education, and continuing a tax system that taxes the middle class at a significantly higher rate than the wealthy, Sandoval and his ilk are only widening the gulf that separates the opportunities of the haves and the have nots.
appleslices - it is for all, just not all will be able to pay the EXTRA money required to go to a private school. Those willing to pay more, get more. Those not willing to pay have no business thinking they are entitled to go to a private school
So he'll give the poor kids vouchers, but guess what, how is poor kid X going to get from his home on MLK and Cheyenne to Green Valley High School? He won't. It's that simple. He can give all the vouchers he wants to help the poor kids, but the reality is that a small percentage will actually be able to use them the way they are intended.
Parents can get fined if their children aren't attending school regularly, but those fines come in the form of tickets. How about a progressively increasing fine that goes to the district or is paid to the school the child is supposed to attend? We'd end up with students attending school more often and a little extra money here and there.
Erquiaga doesn't know the basics of his boss' own program!
First he says that all kids in private school won't be eligible. When the EVIL LIBERAL PRESS calls him on it, he capitulates and admits that every single private school student in the system will be eligible for taxpayer subsidies.
Secondly, according to the stooges at NPRI, 48% of parents would enroll their kids in private schools if financial assistance were available.
Could you imagine what a drain that would be on our public school system? It would render it into destruction. You would essentially separate kids based on their income, relegating poor kids to underfunded schools while rich kids get rebate checks on their education.
This is a scam, and Brian Sandoval should be ashamed of himself, and should FIRE Erquiaga for not knowing the basics of the program he's proposing.
This administration is dangerously incompetent.
Now we all have to pay for Muslim schools by law. Thanks Sandoval. By the language you can tell this is a Trojan horse. First give vouchers based on need and then every few years change the elgibility rules. Eventually parents will be writting big checks and using student loans to get through elementary school.
We will have to pay for Muslim and Mormon schools. Sandoval is worse than Gibbons!
Why even bother educating the rich kids - look at Paris Hilton - living off daddy's wealth - does one really believe she has a brain?
Might be a small step if NO VOUCHERS FOR ILLEGALS NOR ANCHOR BABY ILLEGALS.
OK, so many of the commenters are from public K-12. A "NEEDS BASED" voucher system would mean that those with the means don't get vouchers = rich, no voucher.
Anchor Babies are citizens and will get vouchers paid for by you.
Sandoval is the pits
I agree with jzetzman, this doesn't solve anything if the $ given to the low income families isn't even enough to cover the cost of tuition. Of course, we haven't seen the entire plan, so maybe there's more to it.
Maybe they can implement something where, in order for a private school to accept ANY vouchers, they're obligated to accept vouchers as full payment for low income families. And they can't discriminate when it's time for enrollment. In the Bishop Gorman case (and other parochial schools), I think they're allowed to give preferential treatment to members of their faith and family members of existing students, but outside of that, it should be a first come/first serve basis. And it should be a transparent process.
I'm sure there are other issues that need to be considered (transportation, etc.), but that seems like a big one.
This is wrong to say that it is income-based. All Nevadans should have the same opportunities. If an anchor baby can have the benefit, then a baby from a middle class family should have the same benefit.
It's a slippery slope to assume that a family will pay up for education even if they have the means. There are many children from middle class families that have college loans because the parents simply don't want to spend their money on education.
This is just more welfare. Section 8 housing, food stamps, reduced fees on utilities, WIC payments, goverment debit cards and now luxury schools.
Sandoval wants to expand welfare. Can we afford it?
If it only benefits families that can afford the spread between the voucher and the private school tuition, I really don't think it's going to improve the quality of our school system. I think it's just going to subsidize tuition for people that are already going. That's not what I read Sandoval's proposal to be when he was campaigning. His big justification was that it would support low income families.
Democrats in legislature won't let this go through if it only benefits the privileged families. Whether or not you think it's fair, that's the reality (I think).