Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing requirement that student spend the prior year enrolled in a public school; effective date.
Impact
By removing the public school enrollment prerequisite, HB3431 aims to make the scholarship program more inclusive. This move is expected to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from potentially underperforming public schools to private institutions that may better meet their educational needs. The bill emphasizes parental choice in education, allowing families more flexibility in choosing the right educational setting for their children without the previous constraint of a public school attendance requirement.
Summary
House Bill 3431 amends the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. The bill seeks to eliminate the requirement that students must spend the prior year enrolled in a public school to qualify for the scholarship. This change is significant as it opens up scholarship eligibility to a broader range of students with disabilities, particularly those who may not have been previously enrolled in public school due to various reasons, thereby enhancing educational opportunities for these students in Oklahoma.
Contention
Notably, the bill has sparked discussions regarding the implications for public school funding and accountability. Critics argue that altering the eligibility criteria could divert essential resources away from public schools, which may already be struggling to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Some education advocates express concerns that the bill may lead to a lack of oversight and accountability for private schools participating in the program, potentially compromising educational quality for students using the scholarships.
Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing prior public school enrollment requirement. Effective date. Emergency.
Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing prior public school enrollment requirement; modifying eligibility requirements. Effective date. Emergency.
Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing requirement for prior school year attendance. Effective date. Emergency.
Schools; Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Act; deleting eligibility requirement that the student attend public school prior to applying; effective date.
Schools; Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; modifying eligibility requirements for private school to participate in program; effective date.
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.