Deadline for Nevada education savings account program extended

CARSON CITY — The deadline for early enrollment in Nevada's education savings account program was extended two days after a last-minute glitch prevented some people from signing up, state Treasurer Dan Schwartz said Tuesday.

Early enrollment in the program that allows parents to use state funding for their children to attend private school was to have ended Monday, but a computer glitch temporarily shut down the system.

"We had an unexpected, last-minute surge in enrollments," Schwartz said. "As a result, our computers were down for about an hour."

The problem was fixed, but Schwartz extended the enrollment deadline until 5 p.m. Wednesday "to accommodate those who couldn't get through last night."

So far the treasurer's office has received 3,865 applications.

The school choice law passed by the 2015 Legislature and signed by Gov. Brian Sandoval allows parents of students who have been enrolled in public school for 100 consecutive days to use a portion of the per-pupil state funding to help pay for tuition at private schools or other educational programs.

Most students would receive about $5,000.

Funding is expected to be available starting in February, though two lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the program are pending.

Schwartz also announced a hearing to adopt regulations allowing exemptions from the 100-day rule for active duty military personnel and kindergartners younger than 7 has been rescheduled for Dec. 21.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb.