Tuesday, June 08, 2010

OKLAHOMA CITY—Legislation authorizing scholarships for students with special-needs to attend the schools of their families’ choice was signed into law today by Democrat Gov. Brad Henry.

The Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Act redirects dollars spent on a participating child at his current public school to the public or private school of his family’s choice. The scholarship, named after the governor’s infant daughter who died of Werdnig-Hoffman Disease, will be equal to state and local dollars that would have been spent to educate the child in his public school or the amount of private school tuition, whichever is less.

“Because of the governor’s and legislature’s courageous acts, Oklahoma’s children with special needs have been afforded a new, better chance to succeed in life,” Robert Enlow, president and CEO of the Foundation for Educational Choice, said. “Other states should emulate Oklahoma and its willingness to put the interests of kids and parents first.”

After a child enrolls in the program, he or she will continue to receive a scholarship through high school graduation or until such time as the child would return to a public school. Moreover, Oklahoma’s law is fiscally neutral and may even provide cost savings to taxpayers, as scholarships are worth either the state and local dollars currently spent on a child with special needs or the cost of private school tuition, whichever is less.

The special-needs scholarship program received bipartisan support in the House, before narrowly passing the Senate chamber. Joining the bill’s principal sponsor, state Rep. Jason Nelson (R), were state representatives Anastasia Pittman (D), Jabar Shumate (D), and Sally Kern (R), and state Sen. Patrick Anderson (R). According to Enlow, “All these legislators are true champions for children, as are the many local individuals and groups that fought for Oklahoma’s special needs children. Special praise should go to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and the Oklahoma school choice coalition.”

The broad support for the special-needs scholarship program went well beyond the halls of the legislature, according to Bill Price, the head of Oklahoma’s school choice coalition. “There were so many parents and concerned citizens who told me ‘Our state’s children need this opportunity,’” Price said. “Now, because of their voice, the governor, and supportive legislators, they have it.”

Oklahoma joins Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Utah as states that offer school choice opportunities for students with special needs, according to the Foundation for Educational Choice.

The Foundation for Educational Choice is the continuation of the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation, established by the Friedmans in 1996 to promote school choice as the most effective and equitable way to improve the quality of K-12 education in America.

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