Just days after Governor Joe Lombardo opened Nevada’s door to a groundbreaking federal school choice program, one of the nation’s most powerful education reform organizations announced it’s ready to make that opportunity real for Silver State families.
The American Federation for Children launched the AFC Scholarship Fund this week, a national scholarship organization backed by more than $10 million in funding. The group will operate across states that have opted into the new federal tax credit program, including Nevada, to connect families with educational options starting in 2027.
Building the Infrastructure
Lombardo said yes to the program last week. Now, AFC is building the machine to deliver scholarships to Nevada students.
The AFC Scholarship Fund partnered with Odyssey, a technology platform that already manages over $1.6 billion in school choice programs nationwide, including the massive new Texas program launching in February.
Tommy Schultz, CEO of the American Federation for Children, called it:
“the future of American education.”
He said the goal is straightforward: serve as many children as possible, as quickly as possible, especially those who need help most.
Schultz said:
“For decades, AFC and our affiliates have been the strongest voice for parents in states across America. Now, we are partnering with Odyssey to ensure every student in every state can access education freedom as soon and seamlessly as possible.”
Joseph Connor, founder and CEO of Odyssey, emphasized his platform already handles applications, payments, and compliance for hundreds of thousands of students. He described the partnership as “relentlessly parent-focused.”
Why This Matters for Nevada
For Nevada conservatives who have watched Democrats strangle the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program for years, this national effort represents a lifeline. The state program remains capped at a measly $6.65 million, serving fewer than 2,000 students despite overwhelming demand.
The federal program bypasses that gridlock entirely. It operates independently of Carson City politics, giving Nevada families access to resources that Democratic lawmakers cannot touch or defund. The AFC Scholarship Fund will be one of the organizations Nevada approves to operate here, joining other groups that families can donate to for the $1,700 federal tax credit.
Valeria Gurr, a senior fellow at AFC who focuses on Nevada’s school choice issue, previously called the federal program “life-changing” for states where education reform has been blocked.
The AFC Scholarship Fund announcement shows the movement is mobilizing serious resources to make that vision real.
Aggressive 2026 Campaign
AFC is not waiting until 2027 to start work. The organization plans to spend 2026 building public awareness and securing donations that will be ready when the tax credit takes effect. That $10 million in initial funding will drive a national campaign to educate taxpayers about how the program works.
The strategy makes sense. For the federal program to help significant numbers of Nevada students, it needs tens of thousands of individual donors each giving up to $1,700. Unlike Nevada’s state program where businesses write big checks, the federal version runs on individual contributions. That requires massive outreach to taxpayers who might not know the option exists.
AFC has experience with this kind of campaign. The organization has passed over 200 school choice laws across 32 states throughout its history.
How It Works
Starting January 1, 2027, any American can donate up to $1,700 to an approved scholarship organization like AFC Scholarship Fund and get every penny back as a federal tax credit. Those donations fund scholarships for students from families earning up to 300 percent of their area’s median income, covering roughly 90 percent of Nevada students.
Kids can use scholarships for private school tuition, tutoring, special education services, homeschool curriculum, or other qualified educational expenses.
Nevada’s role is purely administrative. The state approves which organizations can operate as scholarship granting organizations and submits that list to the U.S. Treasury Department. Federal law sets the program rules. Nevada cannot cap the number of scholarships, restrict which schools families choose, or otherwise interfere.
Next Steps
The Nevada Department of Education will soon release details about how organizations can apply to become approved scholarship granting organizations. AFC Scholarship Fund will certainly apply, as will existing groups like AAA Scholarship Foundation that currently runs Nevada’s state Opportunity Scholarship program.
Families interested in scholarships should watch for announcements in 2026 about how to apply. Conservatives who want to support the effort should spread awareness and plan to donate in 2027. If you owe $1,700 or more in federal income taxes, you can redirect that money to help a Nevada student instead of sending it to Washington.
Twenty-four governors have now opted into the program. That represents millions of students across red and purple states who will soon have access to educational freedom. Nevada is part of that movement, and the AFC Scholarship Fund represents the kind of serious, well-funded effort needed to make it work at scale.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
