Families In Limbo As Schools Ignore Special Needs Scholarships
Parents in Oklahoma are feeling shortchanged after their school districts say they will not follow through on special education scholarships provided for under state law.
Earlier this year, Oklahoma established a special needs scholarship program much like those in a handful of other states. Under the program, parents of students with disabilities can be reimbursed by their school district for tuition if they enroll their child in an approved private school.
However, at least five school districts in the state are not complying with the program, arguing that the scholarships violate the state constitution. And that’s putting some parents in a tough spot.
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Ann Howard’s son, Blake Robison, has Asperger’s syndrome and is one of nearly 20 students enrolled at a Tulsa area private school this year that was approved for the scholarship program. “Now it’s a little scary because we get to fill in the extra amount we thought the scholarship was going to take care of,” she told KTUL, the Tulsa, Okla. ABC affiliate. To read more click here.
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