Scholarships; creating the Wellness Scholarship Program Act; providing criteria for students who have health-related concerns. Effective date. Emergency.
Impact
This bill aims to provide greater educational choices for families concerned about the health risks associated with in-person schooling during pandemics. Under the provisions of the bill, scholarship funds would be calculated based on state aid factors and appropriated to the families to cover tuition and fees for private education. It also mandates that school districts inform eligible families about the scholarship program, promoting awareness and participation across communities.
Summary
Senate Bill 221 introduces the Wellness Scholarship Program Act, which establishes a scholarship program designed to assist students enrolled in public schools who have health-related concerns, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The act allows parents or legal guardians to request a Wellness Scholarship for their children to attend an approved private school of their choice, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. The eligibility for the scholarships requires that students have been enrolled in a public school for the prior year and that their families notify the State Department of Education upon acceptance to a private school.
Contention
However, the implementation of this bill raises notable points of contention among stakeholders. Critics argue that allowing public funds to support private schooling could undermine public education systems, potentially diverting essential resources from public schools. Moreover, the provisions regarding parental financial responsibility for transportation and other costs, along with the stringent eligibility criteria for private schools to participate, could create barriers for some families seeking to utilize the scholarship effectively. Proponents of the bill, on the other hand, see it as a necessary adaptation to address and mitigate health risks in the educational environment, giving families more control over their children's educational settings.
Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing requirement for prior school year attendance. Effective date. Emergency.
Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; eligibility; modifying discrimination prohibition to which participating private schools must comply. Effective date. Emergency.
Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing prior public school enrollment requirement; modifying eligibility requirements. Effective date. Emergency.
Schools; Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; modifying eligibility requirements for private school to participate in program; effective date.
Schools; Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; including additional disability weights in funding calculation if student is reevaluated; effective date.