Election 2026

Independent, source-first accountability

TheStatedRecordFind a race
Back to the race record

Issue record

Schools and school funding

In short

Aaron Ford's campaign wants per-pupil funding at or above the national average. Danielle Ford's campaign wants more school money, better spent, and closer checks on vendor contracts. Joseph Lombardo's campaign wants every child reading at grade level by third grade and more results-based funding. On the record, Aaron Ford joined multistate cases on the Education Department and student loans, and voted for a 2015 grant bill others sponsored; Lombardo signed the 2023-25 school funding bill.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Aaron D. Ford

Wants Nevada's per-pupil school funding to meet or beat the national average, with the money reaching classrooms.

Danielle Ford

Wants more school money spent better, and closer checks on education contracts with national vendors.

Joseph Lombardo

Wants every child reading at grade level by third grade, and higher per-pupil funding tied to results.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

    Nevada joined 20 other attorneys general in suing in March 2025; a court blocked the layoffs, and the U.S. Supreme Court paused that order while the case goes on.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    His campaign says he sued the Trump administration to stop it from shutting down the U.S. Department of Education. Nevada joined 20 other attorneys general in suing on March 13, 2025. A federal court blocked the layoffs on May 22, 2025. On July 14, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court paused that order while the case goes on. Limit: He was one of 21 attorneys general in the suit. The campaign's figure of $1 billion a year for Nevada was not checked.

  2. official action

    Joseph Lombardo: Matches stated record claim

    He signed the 2023-25 school funding bill, which the state Education Department called the largest K-12 increase in state history, at $2.6 billion over two years.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    His campaign says he delivered the largest education investment in state history, $2 billion in new funding. He signed Senate Bill 503, the 2023-25 school funding bill, on May 31, 2023. The state Education Department called it the largest K-12 increase in state history: $2.6 billion more over two years. Limit: The Legislature passed the budget and he signed it. The Education Department's figure is higher than the campaign's.

  3. official action

    Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

    Nevada joined a 2022 multistate settlement with Navient that gave 592 Nevadans $17.1 million in loan cancellation and paid about $1.05 million to 3,952 more.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    His campaign says he sued a national student loan company and won millions in relief for Nevadans. In January 2022, Nevada and other states settled with Navient for $1.7 billion. His office said 592 Nevadans would get $17,140,858 in loan cancellation and 3,952 would share $1,053,752 in payments. Limit: It was a settlement joined by many states, not a win at trial.

  4. official action

    Aaron D. Ford: Record does not bear out the claim

    His campaign says that as Senate majority leader he sponsored the bill that created the Silver State Opportunity Grant, a college grant for low-income students. Senate Bill 227 created the grant in 2015. Its sponsors were Senators Kieckhefer, Kihuen, Harris and Woodhouse. Ford voted for it but was not a sponsor. He was minority leader that session. Limit: In 2017, as majority leader, he was a lead sponsor of SB 391, which created a different community college scholarship, the Nevada Promise Scholarship. Two 2017 bills on the Silver State grant were filed by others and did not pass.

See something wrong or incomplete? Report it for review.

Sources19 source records

How we use sources

  1. Education planhttps://www.fordfornevada.com/issues/education

    Committee to Elect Aaron Ford · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign issue page.

    candidate statement

    For: Aaron D. Ford: campaign position; Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

  2. Who's running? Nevada 2026 candidate filinghttps://thenevadaindependent.com/article/whos-running-nevada-2026-candidate-filing-period-opens

    The Nevada Independent · Published Mar 2, 2026 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Filing-week live coverage, first published March 2, 2026. The entry dated March 12, 2026 reports an interview with Danielle Ford.

    original reporting

    For: Danielle Ford: campaign position

  3. Governor Lombardo's visionhttps://www.endorse.joelombardofornv.com/vision/

    Lombardo for Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Platform page, signed 'Paid For By Lombardo for Governor'.

    candidate statement

    For: Joseph Lombardo: campaign position

  4. Issueshttps://www.fordfornevada.com/issues

    Committee to Elect Aaron Ford · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Summary of his six issue pages.

    candidate statement

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

  5. Attorney General Ford wins court order stopping dismantling of Department of Educationhttps://ag.nv.gov/News/PR/2025/Attorney_General_Ford%E2%80%AFWins_Court_Order_Stopping_Dismantling_of_Department_of_Education

    Office of the Nevada Attorney General · Published May 22, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Says Nevada joined 20 other attorneys general in suing on March 13, 2025, and a federal court granted a preliminary injunction on May 22, 2025.

    official office record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

  6. McMahon v. New York, No. 24A1203, order (document)

    Supreme Court of the United States · Published Jul 14, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Stays the May 22, 2025 injunction while the appeal goes on.

    official office record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

  7. Delivering Results for Nevadahttps://www.joelombardofornv.com/results

    Lombardo for Governor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The campaign's list of what it says he has done as governor.

    candidate statement

    For: Joseph Lombardo: Matches stated record claim

  8. SB 503 (2023), K-12 funding for 2023-2025https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=10613

    Nevada Legislature · Published May 31, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Bill history: approved by the Governor May 31, 2023, Chapter 147.

    official legislative record

    For: Joseph Lombardo: Matches stated record claim

  9. Nevada Department of Education celebrates historic education funding billhttps://doe.nv.gov/news-media/2023-press-releases/nevada-department-of-education-celebrates-historic-education-funding-bill-and-legislative-achievements

    Nevada Department of Education · Published Jun 26, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Describes the 2023 K-12 budget as almost $12 billion, a $2.6 billion increase over the biennium.

    official office record

    For: Joseph Lombardo: Matches stated record claim

  10. Attorney General Ford announces $1.7 billion settlement with student loan servicer Navienthttps://ag.nv.gov/News/PR/2022/Attorney_General_Ford_Announces_$1_7_Billion_Settlement_with_Student_Loan_Servicer_Navient/

    Office of the Nevada Attorney General · Published Jan 14, 2022 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Gives Nevada's share: $1,053,752 in payments to 3,952 borrowers and $17,140,858 in loan cancellation for 592 borrowers.

    official office record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Matches stated record claim

  11. Economic development planhttps://www.fordfornevada.com/issues/economic-development

    Committee to Elect Aaron Ford · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign issue page.

    candidate statement

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Record does not bear out the claim

  12. SB 227 (2015), Silver State Opportunity Granthttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/78th2015/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=1680

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 8, 2015 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Bill history: created the grant program. Primary sponsors Senators Kieckhefer and Kihuen; co-sponsors Senators Harris and Woodhouse. Approved by the Governor June 8, 2015, Chapter 387.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Record does not bear out the claim

  13. SB 227 (2015), enrolled text (document)

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The version sent to the governor. Its first line names the sponsors: Senators Kieckhefer, Kihuen, Harris and Woodhouse.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Record does not bear out the claim

  14. SB 227 (2015), Senate yes votes on final passagehttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/78th2015/Bill/GetBillVoteMembers?voteKey=2393&voteResultPanel=Yea

    Nevada Legislature · Published May 22, 2015 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The 20 senators who voted yes (it passed 20 to 1). Aaron Ford is one of them.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Record does not bear out the claim

  15. Nevada Senate members, 2015 sessionhttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Legislator/A/Senate/78th2015

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Lists Aaron D. Ford as Minority Leader.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Record does not bear out the claim

  16. Nevada Senate members, 2017 sessionhttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Legislator/A/Senate/79th2017

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Lists Aaron D. Ford as Majority Leader.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Record does not bear out the claim

  17. NRS 396.950 to 396.960, Silver State Opportunity Grant Programhttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-396.html

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The grant law. Its history notes show it was added in 2015 and changed in 2019 and 2021, not in 2017.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Record does not bear out the claim

  18. SB 391 (2017), Nevada Promise Scholarshiphttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/79th2017/Bill/FillSelectedBillTab?selectedTab=Overview&billKey=5449

    Nevada Legislature · Published Jun 8, 2017 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Bill history: lets community colleges award Nevada Promise Scholarships. Aaron Ford is one of its eight primary sponsors. Approved by the Governor June 8, 2017, Chapter 461.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Record does not bear out the claim

  19. SB 391 (2017), enrolled text (document)

    Nevada Legislature · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The version sent to the governor. Its first line names Senators Denis, Cancela, Woodhouse, Segerblom and Ford, then Harris and Ratti.

    official legislative record

    For: Aaron D. Ford: Record does not bear out the claim