Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Demonstrators square off as court hears school-choice arguments

ESA Voucher Protest

Yasmina Chavez

ESA voucher protestors rally outside the Regional Justice Center prior to the start of the Nevada Supreme Court hearing on Senate Bill 302 at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Friday, July 29, 2016.

Protesters Rally for the ESA Voucher Hearing

Protesters speak into megaphones during a rally against the ESA voucher program prior to the start of the Nevada Supreme Court hearing on Senate Bill 302 at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Friday, July 29, 2016. Launch slideshow »

Dueling chants of “we want choice” and “public money, public schools” set the stage for today’s landmark state Supreme Court hearing over the fate of Nevada’s sweeping Education Savings Account Program.

Hundreds of supporters and opponents of the controversial school-choice program turned out this morning on the steps of the Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas. They waved signs and made their respective cases as to why the ESA, which would allow families to use state funds for private school, should be preserved by the court or thrown out.

“We’re fighting to keep public money where it belongs,” said Electra Mcgrath-Skrzydlewski, a parent and party to one of two lawsuits filed against the program, both of which the Supreme Court will hear arguments over today.

In a speech, Democratic Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz called the program a “blank check” for mostly wealthy, white families looking to escape the public school system.

Just a few feet away, a group of supporters, many of whom were Hispanic and Latino, rallied in support of the program, loudly chanting, “We want choice!”

By the time the hearing started about 10 a.m., an overflow room inside the Regional Justice Center was packed with supporters and opponents.

Inside the courtroom, the discussion between the justices and the state’s attorney, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, quickly descended into the weeds of what happened during last year’s legislative session, when the program was approved by a Republican-heavy legislature.

Passed with little debate a year ago, the program has since become one of the most hotly debated education issues in Nevada. Those dissatisfied with the low performance of the state’s public schools have latched onto ESAs as a way to encourage competition, while others have said letting parents take funds out of public schools will only make the situation worse.

The program has been on hold since a District Court judge issued an injunction in January. A quick decision by the court to uphold the ESA would allow the State Treasurer’s Office to start disbursing funds through the program as early as November.

“We will carefully consider this case, understanding the importance of the timeline that’s at stake,” said Chief Justice Ron Parraguirre.

Later, justices heard arguments in a second lawsuit against the program brought by the Nevada ACLU, alleging the ESA would illegally divert public money to religious schools.

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