Arkansas Education Committees Approve Private School Funds For Disabled Children

Both the Arkansas House and Senate Education Committees passed a bill to help educate students with disabilities outside of public schools. The proposed bill will now go before the Arkansas Legislature in January.

All students with disabilities would be able to take about $10,200 a year to pay for a private school or for additional tutoring for homeschoolers.

Money would go to approved tutors, therapists, and educators for education expenses. Families would still be allowed to bill Medicaid for medical therapies.

State Representative Mark Martin, R-Prairie Grove, proposed a similar bill in 2009 where it failed to get through the Education Committee. He is now running as the Republican candidate for Secretary of State.

I am thrilled to find Northwest Arkansas families leading the charge to expand education options for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities right now enjoy very few educational options. I do have concerns about those students who have severe, expensive, disabilities or who are located too far from private special education schools and services. These two groups of students would not benefit as much from the proposed legislation. However, overall the bill would create more options for disabled students.

Don't be surprised when the school districts' lobbying unit, the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators, comes out to attack this proposed legislation.

Comments

[rbrown]

Who do I contact to let them know to vote for this and how do I know when in January to ask for their vote?

[Eye Contact Arkansas]

I'll be posting everything you need to know on who to call and email--don't worry, there will be more notice on this bill.

[Amy Jamison-Casas]

This is so wonderful!!! It won't help my son, as he is a senior this year, but it is something I dreamed of so much all those years ago. It's nice to see it happen in my lifetime! It has been an exhausting fight. I tell people every day... it wasn't the autism that exhausted and jaded me... but the fight with the schools and the heartbreak of the lies through the years. This will help parents focus on their child...instead of the ugliness. THIS ROCKS! thank you to everyone who made this get this far!

[shannon farmer]

I'm super excited about this one...my son will be going to one of these schools next year and I'm beginning my search for schools...the cost of this school is $690 a month, more than my mortgage and twice the amount of daycare. My husband and I work hard every day but still cannot meet the rising cost of the things my child needs....WHATEVER I need to do to make sure this bill passes please let me know...I don't have anything against public schools but I WILL NOT let my son fall through the cracks if I can provide him with a place that he can be assisted as needed.