Phasing out the Special Needs Scholarship Program and limiting enrollment in parental choice programs. (FE)
Impact
The bill caps the total number of students who can participate in parental choice programs such as the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) and the Racine Parental Choice Program (RPCP) to the number of pupils who attended a private school under these programs in the 2023-24 school year. If the applicant numbers exceed this cap, the DPI will accept applications randomly, while still considering certain admission preferences required by existing law. Such restrictions may lead to increased competition for limited spaces in private schools and thereby limit the choices available for families wishing to enroll their children in these programs.
Summary
Senate Bill 499 aims to phase out the Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP) and impose limits on enrollment in various parental choice programs effective from the 2024-25 school year. Currently, students with disabilities can receive scholarships under the SNSP to attend private schools. With the implementation of this bill, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will not grant an SNSP scholarship to any child unless the child was enrolled under this program during the previous school year. Additionally, if a child does not attend a private school under the SNSP in any successive year, they will be ineligible for future scholarships.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding SB499 involve concerns regarding the impact on children with disabilities and overall access to education. Opponents of the bill argue that phasing out the SNSP restricts educational opportunities for children with special needs, limiting their access to suitable educational environments. Supporters maintain that the reforms will create a more sustainable framework for parental choice programs by ensuring that the number of participating students aligns with those who have proven to utilize the services effectively in the prior academic year.
Phasing out parental choice programs and the Special Needs Scholarship Program, repealing the achievement gap reduction program and the student achievement guarantee program, creating a new student achievement guarantee program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Phasing out parental choice programs and the Special Needs Scholarship Program, repealing the achievement gap reduction program and the student achievement guarantee program, creating a new student achievement guarantee program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Increasing the per pupil payments in parental choice programs and the Special Needs Scholarship program and the per pupil payments made to independent charter schools and increasing the revenue ceiling for school districts. (FE)
Increasing the per pupil payments in parental choice programs and the Special Needs Scholarship program and the per pupil payments made to independent charter schools and increasing the revenue ceiling for school districts. (FE)
Provides relative to the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, parent petitions for certain schools to be transferred to the RSD, charter school authorizers, and course providers (EN INCREASE LF EX See Note)