Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes education scholarship accounts for special needs students.

Highlights:

• Establishes a 5 year pilot program for the purpose of creating Education Scholarship Accounts (ESA) for parents of “eligible students” with special needs (Sec. 2).
• Defines “eligible student” as a student who has had an active Individualized Education Program within the past 18 months (Sec. 2).
• Appropriates $7,000 from the state’s General Fund for each participating student’s ESA for the 2015-2016 school year (Sec. 4).
• Limits the number of new students in the ESA program to 500 each year beginning the 2015-2016 school year (Sec. 4).
• Requires parents of an eligible student to sign an agreement to provide an organized, appropriate educational program with measurable annual goals for the participating student (Sec. 3).
• Authorizes parents of a participating student to use the funds deposited in an ESA for certain expenses, including, but not limited to, the following expenses (Sec. 3):
• Tuition or fees at an eligible school;
• Program-textbooks; and
• Payment to a tutor.
• Requires a parent of a participating student to document that the student is identified by the school district, a government agency, or licensed physician as a child with a disability every 3 years, except for students with a permanent disability (Sec. 3).
• Specifies that a student who enrolls in the program remains eligible to receive quarterly ESA payments until the participating student does 1 of the following actions (Sec. 3):
• The student returns to a public school;
• The student completes high school;
• The student completes the school year in which the student reaches the age of 21; or
• The student does not have eligibility verified by a parent.

Full Bill Text