Say no to special education vouchers

The Ohio House Education committee will hear testimony on HB 431 Dec. 5and 6th. There is the possibility of a vote on Dec. 6th. HB431 creates a tuition voucher program for special education students. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Jon Peterson (R-Delaware). This voucher program will allow parents to move their children to private providers at state expense. There will be no checks on the services provided by these providers. This will rob school districts of valuable local funds and hurt programs offered to other students. OFT opposes vouchers.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Say no to special education vouchers

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB 431 to create a special education voucher in Ohio.

HB 431 allows special education vouchers to go to private entities, and students attending private entities would not be protected by federal Free Accessible Public Education standards, or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which are offered to children with special needs who attend traditional public schools.

HB 431 is not needed because IDEA currently allows for private school placement, under very strict conditions, if a public school district is unable to provide appropriate special education and related services. Under the terms of a particular child?s individualized education program (IEP) a private placement is provided at no cost to the parent and paid for with public education funds.

Additionally, nine out of ten parents seeking alternative placements currently win their arbitration hearings. If nine out ten parents are successfully placing their students in other public or private schools, this bill serves only a few while opening the flood gates to new fly-by-night private providers.

The current funding formula for special education requires most of the funds to come from local districts. Removing just a few students will cause serious funding shortfalls and affect thousands of remaining non-special education students. It could also force schools districts that are already struggling financially to ask voters to raise their taxes via levies sooner.

I oppose the expansion of tax-funded tuition voucher programs and the creation of a voucher program for special education students.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
November 30, 2006

Background Information

Creation of a special education tuition voucher program will hurt school districts financially and leave children unprotected from federal standards that ensure that their educational needs are met. Expansion of vouchers are not needed. There is no evidence that voucher schools out-perform traditional public schools yet the current majority leaders continue to seek privatizating education. We must stop this effort because this voucher program will affect all school districts (urban and rural).