Does Joe Lombardo support using tax dollars to send children to private schools?

Nevada Republican gubernatorial candidate Joe Lombardo states on his website that he will "implement school choice initiatives," including "investing in Education Savings Accounts." ESAs, currently used in six states, allow parents to utilize state funds to send their children to private schools.

In 2016, the Nevada Supreme Court struck down an ESA proposal, ruling it unconstitutional to fund ESAs by diverting tax dollars earmarked for public education. However, the ruling permits Nevada to create ESAs with an alternative funding mechanism. Commenting at a recent debate on his support for ESAs, Lombardo stated, "You have to look at different ways of doing business."

The court struck down a similar proposal last month for not including adequate funding provisions. The proposal would have required Nevada to provide vouchers to every student not attending public schools at a cost of at least $300 million, according to public school advocate Educate Nevada Now.