Nevada’s legislature is locked in a high-stakes battle over AB 584, a sweeping school choice proposal that could reshape education for families stuck in underperforming districts.
Amid fierce partisan wrangling, an unexpected advocate emerged this month: eight-year-old Juliette Leong, who stunned Assembly members with a two-minute testimony that quickly went viral.
Leong isn’t just any child speaker. She’s a philanthropist, TEDx presenter, painter and aspiring surgeon and inventor, according to her bio.
From her home classroom, she has already performed at Carnegie Hall, won six national math competitions, and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to nonprofits through her artwork sales.
Addressing lawmakers, Leong highlighted the limitations of “one-size-fits-all” public schools for students like her.
“I spell at a third grade-level and do high school level math, and no school could accommodate my needs. So, I’m homeschooled,” she said, arguing that “some families need options like smaller private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling.”
Her testimony boiled down to a single question.
“But what about the child with the same potential, except whose family can’t afford to homeschool?” she asked.
Leong warned that without alternatives, gifted students could fall through the cracks.
AB 584, introduced last month by Gov. Joe Lombardo (R), would extend vouchers and charter access to pupils in low-performing public schools, according to BizPac Review.
Lombardo, whose 2023 school choice push faltered under a Democrat-controlled legislature, now wields veto power as leverage.
“If there are things Democrats want to pass, the governor has veto power, so they have to figure out how to work with him,” said Valeria Gurr of the American Federation for Children, per the Washington Examiner. “Maybe not everything will pass, but certain pieces certainly will.”
The governor has already won billions in new school funding, but state test scores remain stagnant.
His allied super PAC’s recent polling found strong voter backing for broader school choice—political capital he is eager to spend before the midterm elections.
John Burke, spokesperson for Better Nevada PAC, echoed that view.
“Democrats have an opportunity to work across the aisle with the governor… to make reforms that will help students, teachers, and parents across our state,” he told the outlet. “If they stand in the way, they will have to explain to their constituents why they are on the wrong side of history.”
Critics warn that diverting public dollars could undermine traditional public schools. Yet Leong framed the debate as a matter of equity.
“It’s about unlocking talents, building confidence, and creating opportunities,” she told lawmakers. “Since every kid is different and every family has different circumstances, school choice is how we prepare Nevada students for real world success.”
Her closing words captured the urgency driving AB 584’s supporters.
“The world is moving forward, and Nevada needs to move forward with the world. Thank you, Governor Lombardo, for fighting for school choice.”
As lawmakers deliberate veto negotiations and weigh funding proposals, the testimony of a young student serves as a reminder that voices from across all age groups are playing an important role in shaping Nevada’s ongoing education debate and policy decisions.
