Latest news with #AB533
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
CCSD opposes school choice bill, while lawmakers say it empowers families
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Clark County School District is against a bill that would let parents enroll their children at any public school regardless of where they live. Nevada lawmakers held a hearing for Assembly Bill 533 (AB533), also known as the open enrollment bill, on Tuesday with CCSD providing the lone dissent among speakers. 'As we talk about open enrollment, I just want it to be clear that we are providing as many seats as we possibly can to any school that's underutilized,' Brad Keating, assistant superintendent at CCSD, said. Despite CCSD's opposition, the bill has support among Democrats, Republicans and the business community. During testimony, supporters argued the bill's lottery system for placing children in schools outside of their neighborhood will be fairer than what's currently in place. 'As an educator, as a school leader, and as a policymaker — I see the potential this bill has to change lives and to change the trajectory of so many students and close the equity gap for families,' Democratic Assem. Selena Torres-Fossett said. 'Parents should have freedom': Nevada law aims to allow open enrollment in schools AB533 would allow children to go to any school that has the room through a lottery system. Parents would have to apply first and if they're denied, there would be a mechanism where they could appeal the decision. Supporters said this proposal is about creating no address discrimination. 'Families will do what is best for them and I think we should empower those families to make those decisions,' Torres-Fossett said. The Vegas Chamber, the American Civil Liberties Union, Latin Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Prosperity and NAACP all came out in support of AB533. Keating said the district is against it. 'We're still struggling to figure out the difference between the COSA process and what this lays out in law, so we want to work with the stakeholders to figure that out,' Keating said. COSA is Change of School Assignment. According to CCSD, there are 16,000 students under COSA. Lesson learned: Lawmaker takes second crack at help for English learners in Nevada schools But unlike the new proposal, CCSD does not have a process to appeal a denial, according to the district's website. 'The reality right now is there is no equity. Those kids who are at schools where they aren't happy or not satisfied do not have other options unless they are attending a public charter school, or unless they're in a magnet program,' Torres-Fossett said. Another point that came up with the bill was public transportation, but according to the bill's text, school trustees will create and submit a report to the state every year evaluating the issue. Keating said the district has problems with the legislation's language on school capacity and the fact that a student's behavior will be used as a factor in their application. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Parents should have freedom': Nevada law aims to allow open enrollment in schools
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – For decades, Clark County School District students could only attend public schools near their homes. However, a new law could change the dynamic by giving families a choice. Nevada lawmakers have proposed a bill to make sure a zip code doesn't determine a child's academic success. AB 533 would allow children to go to any school that has room through a lottery system. Parents would have to apply first and if they're denied, there would be a mechanism where they could appeal the decision. Supporters said this proposal is about creating no address discrimination, which has some parents on board. 'Previously, I've been against what they deem as school choice or vouchers. But this district has too many schools that are failing the students that go there. And so, by at least allowing parents to choose other public schools in the district, I think it's a step in the right direction,' Leonard Lither, who has two children enrolled in the Clark County School District, said. One of Lither's children is in middle school, the other is in high school. 'Parents should not be bound to that school if the school is going to fail the kids and the district is not taking action to correct it,' Lither said. 'Parents should have the freedom to choose a different school.' In a letter submitted in support of the bill, Matt Turner of Clark County told lawmakers he supports the bill as a father of two children. 'Because we don't qualify for any transfer programs and remain on the magnet school waiting list, we've had no choice but to pay for private school, something that's financially unsustainable for our family,' Turner said. The idea of open enrollment appears to have bipartisan support. Democratic Assem. Selena Torres-Fossett proposed the changes to open enrollment. She's also the chair of the Assembly Committee on Education. In an interview with the 8 News Now Investigators, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo signaled his support for open enrollment as part of school choice. 'School choice is, you know, all-encompassing. It's charter schools. It's different education opportunities. It's open zoning, the ability to receive transportation, to go to a different school versus a traditional place where you reside,' Lombardo said. According to the bill, it would be up to a school board to decide whether it will provide a school bus for kids participating in open enrollment. Some western states with open enrollment are Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
