Parents sue over cap on program

Dems changed scholarship rules

Parents whose children attend private schools on scholarships funded by state tax incentives are suing over a cap on the program imposed during the recent legislative session.

The Opportunity Scholarship program, launched in 2015 when Republicans controlled both the state Assembly and Senate, was to grow by 10 percent every year under the initial legislation. But Democrats, who took control of the Legislature prior to the 2019 session, eliminated that provision and capped the tax incentives at roughly $6.7 million — the same amount the program received last year.

The program provides scholarships to low-income families that are funded by tax incentives given to businesses that pay the modified business tax.

While legislators this session funneled a onetime infusion of an extra

$9.5 million to ensure there would be enough money for current students, at least one of three organizations that grant such scholarships has informed parents that it can’t fund all current students this school year.

The three plaintiff parents say the cap leaves them uncertain whether their children can continue to attend their private school.

“If they repeal that (tax incentive increase) and take that back, my fear is these people will not donate anymore,” said Keysha Newell, whose 7-year-old daughter attends Innovation Academy in Las Vegas and who hopes to one day send her son there, too. “And I will not have the option to get the scholarship anymore.”

Two-thirds argument

The lawsuit, expected to be filed on Thursday morning by the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit that advocates for

to Narcotics Anonymous, attend a paralegal program at UNLV and turn his life around. He was taken into custody again afterward when he tested positive for methamphetamine, violating the conditions of his house arrest.

“Your honor, there’s nobody who is more suited to the term ‘habitual criminal’ than Mr. Arevalo,” said Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal, who argued in favor of adding an enhancement to Arevalo’s charges that would extend his sentence.

Defense attorney Dan Gilliam argued that Arevalo had struggled with addiction and gang involvement since he was 15. He asked Bluth to grant Arevalo probation so he could continue working toward improving his life.

In court on Wednesday, Arevalo credited his sponsor in the NA program and his mentor from Hope For Prisoners for the positive change in his life, and said that he was better equipped to prevent another relapse.

Arevalo will be sentenced Thursday morning for 12 counts of being an inmate in possession of a cellphone.