Officials have uncovered numerous problems with the implementation of an Ohio scholarship program that allows students with autism to attend private schools using public funds.

Investigators say that at least three schools approved by the state were overbilling, providing unnecessary services or relying on unqualified staff to teach students with disabilities, among other issues. What’s more, school districts say they’ve had difficulty obtaining student progress reports from the private providers.

Ohio’s Autistic Scholarship Program allows parents to tap as much as $20,000 a year in public funds to send a child with autism to a state-approved private school in lieu of attending their local school district.

The scholarships are wildly popular, with 1,672 students taking advantage last year alone. Since the program was established in 2003, several other states have created similar scholarship opportunities, reports the Akron Beacon Journal. To read more click here.

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