Nevada accepting applications for education savings accounts

The Nevada Treasurer’s Office is now accepting applications for education savings accounts, even though state funds likely won’t be flowing into them until April.

The office posted the application on its website Wednesday and will be accepting the forms through Nov. 30. The program allows parents a portion of their child’s per-pupil state education funding to use at a private school or for other qualifying educational expenses, such as tutoring, books and transportation.

“I promised parents that we would move quickly to give parents a clear picture of their options,” Treasurer Dan Schwartz said in a statement. “This morning, we delivered.”

The law passed by the Nevada Legislature this spring requires enrollees to attend at least 100 days of public school before qualifying for the money.

Students who attended public school in the 2014-2015 school year can use those days to qualify but should submit an application before starting private school this year to be eligible for funds as soon as they become available. Otherwise, the clock restarts.

Students who just left a public school and start private school this year without submitting an application will not be eligible for the program until they leave the private school again and attend a public school for at least 100 days.

While the measure technically won’t allow funds for home schooled students, it would allow money for homeschooling families that administer state standardized tests to their children. State education officials are working out regulations that would determine whether homeschooling parents and other participating entities, including tutors and private schools, are doing a good enough job to continue receiving state funds.

It’s not clear how many students will take advantage of the program, but Schwartz’s chief of staff Grant Hewitt said 10 people had submitted the early application on Wednesday, even before its availability was publicly announced.