From the ECS State Policy Database Choice of Schools--Vouchers

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary PA Signed into law 07/2012 P-12 Modifies tax code to provide the means for low- and moderate-income students (185% of poverty) who reside in the attendance boundary of a low-achieving school, to apply for an opportunity scholarship to attend a participating public or private school. Funds may not be used to attend a career and technology center or charter schools (brick-and-mortar or cyber). Schools approved to receive students must charge scholarship students no more than their set tuition rate, and if necessary, must initiate a lottery to determine enrollment. Businesses that donate to opportunity scholarship organizations are eligible for a tax credit through the program. Defines and establishes parameters for a "scholarship organization." Requires reports from such organizations that include total number of applications received, total and average amounts of scholarships awarded, total number of applications processed and amounts of application fees charged -- either per application or in the aggregate through a third-party processor; and tax status. For 2012-2013, a business tax credit cannot exceed $400,000 annually per firm; for 2013-2014 and thereafter, the tax credit cannot exceed $750,000 annually per business firm. Requires the Department of Revenue to grant a tax credit of up to 90% of the total amount contributed if the business provides a written commitment to provide the scholarship organization with the same amount of contribution for two consecutive tax years. Defines a "pass-through" entity (pg. 91). Sets eligibility requirements for scholarship applicants, including 185% of the Federal poverty level. Excludes home schooled students and prohibits scholarships for students who have been recruited for athletic purposes. Maximum scholarship awards: $8,500 except for a student with a disability ($15,000). Grant amounts for students who attend or will attend a nonpublic school cannot exceed the amount of the per pupil subsidy of the school district of residence. Allows districts to establish a program of tuition grants to provide for education of students who reside within the district and attend or will attend a public or nonpublic school on a tuition-paying basis. A student receiving a grant to attend a public school is counted in average daily membership for purposes of funding, except when a student attends a public school outside the school district (included in the ADM of the school district the student attends). Requires that transportation be provided and reimbursed. Participating schools are not required to accept a student if it does not offer appropriate programs or is not structured or equipped with the necessary facilities to meet the special needs of the recipient. Provides the Pennsylvania Supreme Court with exclusive and original jurisdiction to hear any challenge or to render a declaratory judgment concerning constitutionality. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=0761&pn=3894 Title: H.B. 0761 Source: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/ OH Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 Extends eligibility for an EdChoice Scholarship to a student outside Cleveland who is enrolled in a nonpublic school at the time the state board grants the school a charter under 3301.16 (http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3301.16) and the school meets the eligibility requirements established in 3310.031. Establishes section 3310.031. Directs the state board to establish procedures for granting educational choice scholarships to eligible students attending a nonpublic school at the time the state board grants the school a charter under section 3301.16. Provides a student in a nonpublic school granted a charter is eligible for an EdChoice Scholarship if any of enumerated criteria apply. In making EdChoice scholarship payments, directs the department, in the case of certain students living outside the district in which the student's parent resides, to deduct the payments from the district that includes the student in its average daily membership. Amends provisions related to reporting of student performance data for EdChoice scholarship students. Requires data to be disaggregated by grade level (formerly was "age"). Pages 68-76 of 592: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_316_EN_Y.pdf Title: S.B. 316 - Educational Choice (EdChoice) Scholarship Pilot Program Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 Requires Cleveland pilot project scholarship (voucher) students' performance data to be disaggregated, among other factors, by grade level (previously required disaggregation by "age"). Page 113 of 592: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_316_EN_Y.pdf Title: S.B. 316 - Cleveland Voucher Program Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 Each time a child's district completes evaluation for a child with a disability or undertakes the development, review, or revision of the child's IEP, requires the district to notify the child's parent about both the autism scholarship program and the Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program. Requires the notice to include specified contact information. Pages 228-229 of 592: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_316_EN_Y.pdf Title: S.B. 316 - Autism Scholarship and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Programs Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 Directs the department to conduct a second Educational Choice Scholarship application period for the 2012-2013 school year to award scholarships to eligible students who were enrolled in a nonpublic school in the 2011-2012 school year that was granted a charter by the state board during the 2011-2012 school year. Provides that a scholarship awarded during this second application period must be used in the 2012-2013 school year only to pay tuition at the nonpublic school in which the eligible student was enrolled in the 2011-2012 school year. Page 396 of 401: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_316_EN_N.pdf Title: S.B. 316 - EdChoice Vouchers in 2012-13 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OK Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Creates the Rethinking Special Education Competency and Transition Task Force. The task force will focus on improved educational services and outcomes and meaningful postsecondary transition plans. Topics for study also include how special education services can be enhanced through collaboration models, what are the most salient issues when a parent files a complaint, teacher preparation for accommodating students with learning differences, safeguards to assure annual progress, procedures regarding referral and evaluation for special education services, barriers for students who graduate and want to attend postsecondary education classes, options for creating a statewide special education entity and other states' models. Makeup of the task force is modified to include 24 members. Clarifies that acceptance of a Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship will have the same effect as parental revocation of consent to service through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and that the amount of a scholarship will be prorated to reflect the number of school days remaining if the scholarship is granted after the beginning of the school year. Specifies that the state department will notify private schools of the amounts for scholarships within 10 days after receiving the request when total State Aid factors have been determined for the current fiscal year. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20ENR/hB/HB3090%20ENR.DOC Title: H.B. 3090 Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us LA Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Creates a permanent program out of the two-year School Choice Pilot Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities. The program is designed for students with various disabilities, including autism, a mental disability, emotional disturbance, developmental delay, other health impairment, specific learning disability, or traumatic brain injury, and has an Individual Education Plan. The program allows students to attend schools of their parents' choosing that provide educational services that specifically address the student's needs. Addresses reporting requirements for the program. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=805343 Title: H.B. 911 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us MS Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Establishes the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship For Students With Dyslexia program. Outlines student eligibility requirements for receipt of a scholarship and the term of the scholarship. Stipulates the obligations of parents, students and schools and school districts, and prescribes the duties of the department of education and the state board of education regarding the administration of the scholarship program. Grants authority to the Department of Education to verify the eligibility of nonpublic schools and to establish the process for notifications of violations. Authorizes the state board of education to deny, suspend or revoke a school's participation in the scholarship program. Requires that all compulsory-school-age children be screened for dyslexia during the period between the spring of kindergarten and the fall of grade 1 and other appropriate times as deemed necessary in the public schools of this state. Establishes procedures for screening and evaluation of students for dyslexia and related disorders. Requires that school diagnosticians receive additional training in the evaluation and diagnosis of dyslexia. Requires that students receive comprehensive academic evaluations by trained diagnosticians in the diagnosis of dyslexia if screening indicates risk of dyslexia. Requires the department of education to submit an annual report to the legislature summarizing student performance, student assessments, funding and any recommended changes. Prescribes appropriate dyslexia qualifications for administrative and instructional personnel. Requires the state department of education to serve as the local educational agency for those schools. Requires the state to pay directly to the school any federal or state aid attributable to a student with a disability attending the school. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2012/pdf/HB/1000-1099/HB1031SG.pdf Title: H.B. 1031 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/ VA Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Establishes a credit beginning in taxable year 2012 for corporations donating cash or property to nonprofit organizations providing education improvement scholarships to students who would have been eligible for the free and reduced lunch program under federal law, in order for them to attend nonpublic elementary or secondary schools. Nonprofit organizations to which donations are made would be required to distribute at least 90 percent of their tax-credit-derived funds for such scholarships. The credit would equal 70 percent of the donation made by the corporation and would be refundable. Any corporation taking a charitable deduction on its federal income tax return would be required to add that amount back to its Virginia taxable income in order to receive the credit. There is a $10 million annual cap for the credits. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+HB321ER+pdf Title: H.B. 321 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/ AZ Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Requires that a parent or guardian sign a contract to participate in an Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account if he/she does not plan to enroll the child in a public, private or charter school or a homeschool; Broadens the definition of a qualified student beyond students with disabilities to include a student (1) attending a school or district assigned a "D" or "F" grade, (2) a previous recipient of an ESA or Arizona scholarship for pupils with disabilities, (3) a child of a parent or guardian who is a U.S. Armed Forces member on active duty, (4) certain current or former wards of the juvenile court; Prohibits student from concurrently accepting a scholarship from a school tuition organization and an empowerment scholarship account. Includes (1) educational therapies/services expenses incurred by licensed paraprofessionals or educational aides and (2) services provided by a public school, including individual classes and extracurricular programs, as allowable expenditures of ESA funds; Specifies that a signed ESA agreement does not relieve the previously attended school district or charter school from the obligation to evaluate children for placement in special education programs; Prohibits the expenditure of ESA monies on computers, transportation expenses and consumable educational supplies; Prohibits the parents of qualified students from filing an affidavit of intent to homeschool, in order to enroll for an ESA; Establishes the Department of Education (ADE Fund) and State Treasurer (Treasurer Fund) Empowerment Scholarship Account Funds; Allows the department to retain up to 5 percent of the base level support for each student for the purpose of covering administrative costs and deposits retained monies in the Fund; Stipulates that previously qualified students are eligible to apply for ESA renewal for the duration of high school, regardless of any changes to their multidisciplinary evaluation team plan; Requires the department to determine a period that is between July 1 and May1 of each year to accept applications for the following year and estimate the amount required to fund the ESA by May 30. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/2r/laws/0360.pdf Title: H.B. 2622 Source: azleg.gov GA Vetoed 05/2012 P-12 Specifies the language school systems must use to notify parents of a child's potential eligibility for a Georgia Special Needs Scholarship. Requires the student's resident school system to ensure the parent of a student with a disability is provided such notice at each individualized education program (IEP) meeting. Authorizes the state board to require a local board to expedite the development of an IEP and waive the scholarship qualification requirement that a student have spent the previous school year in a Georgia public school, on a case-by-case basis for a student's specific medical needs, on parental request. Authorizes the state board to require such an expedited IEP process to be completed before the start of the school year. Directs the state board to provide an annual report through 2015 on the number of waivers approved pursuant to these provisions. Establishes 3 scholarship application deadlines each school year (September 15, December 15, February 15) for a special needs student to transfer. Allows scholarship amounts to be reduced under certain circumstances. Specifies dates for making quarterly scholarship payments, and requires such payments to be equal, as nearly as practical. Directs the state auditor to cite as an audit exception any failure by the department to meet any payment deadlines and to include such audit exceptions on the state's Transparency in Government website. Bill text: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127590.pdf Governor's veto message: http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,165937316_184600248_184703295,00.html Title: H.B. 181 Source: www.legis.ga.gov LA Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Expands the current choice program, Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, beyond schools in the New Orleans district to students statewide who meet eligibility requirements. Provides scholarships to eligible students to attend public and nonpublic schools. Eligible students must be from families with a total income not exceeding 250% of the federal poverty guidelines who are entering kindergarten, were enrolled in a public school on Feb. 1 of the previous year that had a letter grade of C, D, or F or any variation thereof, or received a scholarship the previous school year. The law addresses student enrollment preferences and priorities when space is limited. Requires that only after students from "D" and "F" public schools are placed in participating schools indicated on the students' applications, students from "C" schools will be entered into the random selection process and shall be provided an equal opportunity for selection into that particular participating school. Addresses requirements for participating schools: Deletes eligibility requirement that a public school be academically acceptable and instead requires that the school have a letter grade of A or B or any variation thereof, for the most recent school year. Requires the department annually to publish certain student test result data, a list of public schools with certain letter grades, cohort graduation rates, retention rates, and parental satisfaction rates for participating schools as applicable. With respect to funding, requires board of education to annually allocate from the funding formula to each participating school, an amount equal to the amount allocated per pupil to the local school system in which the participating student resides. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=793655 Title: H.B. 976 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us VA Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Establishes a credit beginning in taxable year 2013 for individuals, business entities, and corporations making monetary donations to nonprofit organizations providing education improvement scholarships to students whose family's annual household income is not in excess of 300 percent of the current poverty guidelines and certain students with disabilities, in order for them to attend nonpublic elementary or secondary schools. Nonprofit organizations to which donations are made would be required to distribute at least 90 percent of such donations in the form of scholarships to such students. The credit would equal 65 percent of the donation made and any unused credit for the taxable year could be carried forward for five years. There is an annual cap of $25 million in tax credits for the scholarship program. The Department of Education would administer the tax credit program. Expands the current Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit program by increasing the tax credit percentage from 40 to 65 percent; raising the cap on education proposals from $4.9 million to $8 million, which has the effect of raising the total cap on the program from $11.9 million to $15 million; expanding the eligibility criteria for programs qualifying for tax credits to encompass programs providing services to certain students with disabilities and individuals whose family's annual household income is not in excess of 300 percent of the poverty guidelines; allowing unused credits at the end of the year to be distributed to neighborhood organizations that had previously met the $500,000 cap on tax credits; and extending the sunset for the program to July 1, 2017. Incorporates SB 241. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0731+pdf Title: S.B. 131 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/ WI Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Closing the parental choice program for eligible school districts to additional school districts. Provides that no school district that has not already qualified as an eligible school district may qualify as an eligible school district after the effective date of this bill. (Act 215) https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/enrolled/sb174 Title: S.B. 174 Source: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov IN Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Provides that an individual is eligible for a scholarship from a scholarship program that is certified by the department of education if the student received a scholarship in a preceding school year, including a school year that does not immediately precede a school year in which the individual receives a scholarship from a scholarship granting organization. Provides that an individual must be a member of a household with an annual income of not more than 200% of the amount required for the individual to qualify for the federal free or reduced price lunch program each year that an individual receives a scholarship from a scholarship granting organization. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/SE/SE0296.1.html Title: S.B. 296 Source: www.in.gov IN Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Requires an accredited nonpublic school to provide sufficient verbal information to permit a requesting school to which a child transfers to make an appropriate placement decision when the parent of the child is in breach of a contract that conditions release of student records on the payment of outstanding tuition and other fees. Requires the state board of education to conduct a second count of students enrolled in school corporations and charter schools in February of each school year, with the first count being in September. Expires the school funding formula on July 1, 2013. Transfers the appropriation and funding for charter school start-up grants to the appropriation for state tuition support. Increases the amount of the charter school start-up grant for charter schools that begin operation in calendar year 2012 and provides that the grant is to be paid in six installments with one installment in each of the last six months of calendar year 2012. Specifies that the amount distributed as special grants to school corporations to reflect the savings resulting from the education of students under a choice scholarship rather than in a school corporation are limited only by the state fiscal year appropriation and not the calendar year cap that limits the amount of state tuition support payable in a calendar year. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/HE/HE1189.1.html Title: H.B. 1189 Source: www.in.gov UT Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Directs the education interim committee to conduct a study of programs and initiatives to assist students at risk of academic failure, including a study of: (1) The Carson Smith Scholarships for Students with Special Needs program to determine whether program funding is adequate to meet program demand (2) Programs and funding to assist students in the state's public schools who score below proficient on assessments of academic achievement or are economically disadvantaged (3) Programs in other states to assist students who score below proficient on assessments of academic achievement or are economically disadvantaged (4) Other initiatives to assist students at risk of academic failure. http://le.utah.gov/~2012/bills/sbillenr/sb0151.pdf Title: S.B. 151 Source: le.utah.gov WI Signed into law 02/2012 P-12 This portion of S.B. 2 establishes timelines for student application to nonresident school and for schools to respond to students making the requests. Moves the timeline for application to attend a nonresident school from February to the last weekday in April. The school board is required to respond by the 1st Monday in June, and the family is required to confirm the transfer (if approved) by the last Friday in June. District boards are to determine the number of regular and special education spaces available in January. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/acts/114 Title: S.B. 2 - Choice of Schools Provision Source: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov WI Signed into law 11/2011 P-12 Requires private schools participating in either the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program or the Choice Program for Eligible School districts to report family information to the Department of Public Instruction. Family income data is then to be verified by the Department of Revenue (DOR) to ensure that the family income falls within the eligibility requirements for vouchers. Clarifies that the DOR does not make a determination about eligibility but verifies whether the pupil is eligible to participate on the basis of family income. If DOR is unable to verify eligibility, DOR must notify the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), which must utilize an alternative process to determine eligibility. Adds several accrediting bodies to the list of approved accreditors for participating private schools. Requires the state superintendent to terminate the participation of a private school in either program if the private school retains a disqualified person before the end of a seven-year period following the issuance of an order barring a private school from participating. Permits a private school to recover the cost of providing certain goods and services to a pupil through reasonable fees. Contains other provisions. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/acts/47 Title: S.B. 234 Source: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Requires that staff at a nonpublic school participating in the Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program or at a college-preparatory boarding school undergo criminal background checks. Permits the chief administrator of a registered private provider participating in the autism scholarship program to request criminal background information. Specifies that when the superintendent receives a request from a nonpublic school participating in the Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program or the autism scholarship program, the superintendent must proceed as if the request came from a local board Pages 79-100 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part1.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - Background Checks at Certain Schools Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Amends various provisions of the Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program (voucher for students in low-performing schools, not Cleveland voucher). Increases total number of students who may participate from 14,000 annually to 30,000 in the 2011-12 school year, and 60,000 in the 2012-13 school year and thereafter. Adds 4th and 5th level priority for scholarship awards to low-income and other students in specified low-performing schools. Adds provision directing the department to cease awarding first-time scholarships to students in buildings that no longer meet specified low-performance criteria. Removes language specifying dollar amount to be deducted from school district payment for each eligible student. Page 69-74 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part2.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Specifies that the services provided under the scholarship must include an educational component. Pages 74-77 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part2.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - Autism Scholarship Program Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Establishes the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program, effective with the 2012-13 school year, for K-12 students with disabilities to attend either (1) a registered private provider (i.e., a nonpublic school or other nonpublic entity that has been registered by the superintendent of public instruction), (2) a school district that is not the school district in which the child is entitled to attend school or the child's school district of residence, or (3) a public entity other than a school district, to which a parent or person in loco parentis owes fees for services provided to a child. Provides that an eligible student may not be participating in the educational choice scholarship pilot program (low-performing schools scholarship program), the pilot project scholarship program (Cleveland scholarship program), or the autism scholarship program in a year for which scholarship funds are sought. Provides that the scholarship may cover all or a part of the fees for the child to attend the special education program, and other services agreed to by the provider and eligible applicant that are not included in the individualized education program but are associated with educating the child. Specifies the number of scholarships awarded in any fiscal year may not exceed 5% of the total number of students in the state identified as chidlren with disabilities. Requires participating students to take state-mandated assessments and for those results to be reported to the department of education, unless the student is excused from an assessment under federal law or the student's IEP. Establishes a method for determining the amount to be paid for a qualified special education child under the program. Specifies the criteria a nonpublic provider must meet to be eligible to receive payments under the program. Pages 77-86 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part2.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Makes changes to the "pilot project scholarship program" (Cleveland voucher program). Expands eligibility to new applicants through grade 12 (previously new students only accepted through grade 8). Increases scholarship amount effective fiscal year 2012. Pages 170-176 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part2.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - Cleveland Voucher Program Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Directs the department of education to develop a document that compares a parent's and child's rights under Chapter 3323 of the Ohio code and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) with the parent's and child's rights under the Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program, and to revise that document as necessary to reflect any pertinent changes in state or federal statutory law after the initial document is developed. Directs the department and each school district to ensure that this document is distributed in conjunction with the notice required under 20 U.S.C. 1415(d), and any provision of the Code of Federal Regulations implementing that requirement, in the manner and at all the times specified for such notice in federal law or regulation. Pages 401-402 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part2.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - Parental Rights and Special Education Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us NH Became law without governor's signature 06/2011 P-12 Permits the state board of education to grant charter status to all applicants that meet the requirements (removing quota of 20 schools during charter pilot begun in 2003). Requires that the state pay tuition for each pupil attending a chartered public school located in state but outside of the pupil's resident school district directly to the chartered public school. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2011/SB0082.html Title: S.B. 82 Source: www.gencourt.state.nh.us FL Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Expands eligibility for the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program to students with disabilities who have 504 accommodation plan issued under federal law (previously the only students eligible were those with an individual educational plan has been written in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education). Provides that parent may choose to enroll student in public school in adjacent district under certain conditions. Provides for scholarship amounts. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1329er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1329&Session=2011 Title: H.B. 1329 Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.govt FL Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 From House of Representatives Staff Analysis: Expands the definition of a failing school for purposes of student eligibility for the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) (Created in 1999 as part of a broad education reform package known as the A+ Plan; Designed to provide parents of public school students in failing schools the opportunity to send their children to another public school performing satisfactorily or to an eligible private school), by changing the classification of a failing school from a school receiving two "F's" in a four-year period to a school that receives a "D" or an "F" in the prior year and is in one of the two lowest categories of differentiated accountability. Expands the authorization parents currently have to choose a higher-performing public school that has space available in an adjacent school district to allow a parent to choose a higher-performing public school in any other school district in the state. Provides that if a parent chooses a higher-performing public school within the assigned district, the school district is required to provide transportation. Repeals all portions of the law relating to the OSP private school choice options to comply with existing case law that found this portion of the OSP unconstitutional. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1331er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1331&Session=2011 Title: H.B. 1331 Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov WI Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Appropriates funding for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) and choice programs in other eligible school districts (the latter is an expansion). Section 2532m. (118.60 of the statutes) is created to address parental choice programs for eligible school districts. "Eligible school district" means a school district that satisfies all of the following: 1. The school district's equalized value per member, as determined in accordance with s. 121.15 (4) on October 15 of the 2nd fiscal year of the current fiscal biennium for the distribution of equalization aid in that year, is no more than 80 percent of the statewide average. 2. The school district's shared cost per member, as determined in accordance with s. 121.07 on October 15 of the 2nd fiscal year of the current fiscal biennium, for the distribution of aid in that year is no more than 91 percent of the statewide average. 3. The school district is eligible, in the 2nd fiscal year of the current fiscal biennium, to receive aid under s.121.136. 4. The school district is located in whole or in part in a city of the 2nd class. For the parental choice program, clarifies re: participating private schools; makes revisions re: family income requirement (family income includes income of the pupil's parents or legal guardians); additional tuition and fees, participation open to any private school, accrediting agency, pupil assessments, family applications, auditing standards, payments directly to the private school, enrollment cap, and state department duties (Department of Revenue references were vetoed). [Sec. 2488pt, 2536-2536g, p-2541m, 2542c-2549u, 9337 (3)-(5r)]. Requires the Department of Public Instruction to notify participating private schools of their eligibility prior to start of the school year [Sec. 2550, 2551]. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/acts/32.pdf Title: A.B. 40 (Act 32) - Budget Bill Source: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov OK Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Parents requesting a Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities must make their request no later than December 1 of the school year during which the scholarship is requested. Removes the date of April 1 by which the school district must notify parents of their rights in regard to the scholarship and leaves in that the district must simply notify them. It also removes language that stated a parent must not be required to accept the offer of enrolling in another public school in lieu of the scholarship and language that instructs the State Department of Education to use funds from general appropriations to pay the scholarship if the district's state aid cannot be reduced enough to cover the expense. Allows for a 2.5% administrative fee by the State Department of Education and gives the Department the authority to reduce state aid to school districts failing to comply with provisions of the program. Also creates the Special Education State-wide Cooperative Task Force until May 31, 2012, to study ways to improve special education and related services. Parents will notify the State Department of Education rather than the school district of the request for a scholarship. The scholarship will be in effect until the student graduates or turns 22, whichever occurs first. Students will not be eligible for the scholarship if they are not having regular contact with the private school teachers at the physical location of the private school. Link to summary: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/BILLSUM/House/HB1744%20CCS%20BILLSUM.DOC Bill text: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20ENR/hB/HB1744%20ENR.DOC Title: H.B. 1744 Source: Westlaw/StateNet IN Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Provides a tax deduction for a parent who sends a child to a private school or home schools the child. Increases the school scholarship tax credits that may be awarded for donations to a scholarship granting organization. Prohibits a scholarship granting organization from limiting the availability of scholarships to students of only one participating school. Provides choice scholarships to students in families with income that is not more than 150% percent of the amount required for the individual to qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program to pay the costs of tuition and fees at a public or private elementary school or high school that charges tuition. Requires fair admissions policies for schools eligible for choice scholarships. Requires an eligible school to include certain subjects in the school's curriculum. Limits the number of choice scholarships awarded per school year before June 30, 2013. Limits the choice scholarship granted to a student in grade 1 through 8 to $4,500 per school year. Provides consequences for nonpublic schools who receive: (1) consecutive low category designations for school performance and improvement; and (2) a distribution of choice scholarships. Makes conforming changes. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/HE/HE1003.1.html Title: H.B. 1003 Source: http://www.in.gov/ AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Amends Title 15, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding chapter 19 creating a "scholarship account" program providing options for K-12 students with disabilities to attend private schools. Designates the expenses which can be applied to the account and rules applying to the program. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/sb1553h.pdf Title: S.B. 1553 Source: http://www.azleg.gov PA Signed into law 11/2010 P-12 Not a traditional voucher, but does provide tuition for students to attend school in another district under a tuition arrangement. From the fiscal note: Authorizes tuition for students in small district that are currently under fiscal district to designated districts that accept those students. Receiving school districts will be paid a calculated tuition rate and an additional stipend for two years. The sending district will continue to count those students as part of its average daily membership. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0441&pn=2281 Title: S.B. 441 - Amending Section 1607 Source: http://www.legis.state.pa.us WI Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Requires the governing board of every private school participating in the Milwaukee parental choice program to adopt pupil academic standards in mathematics, science, reading and writing, geography and history. Requires a school participating in the Milwaukee parental choice program to administer the state's 4th grade, 8th grade and 10th grade examinations to all students in those grades who are participating in the parental choice program, and to administer to program participants all other examinations in reading, mathematics, and science that are required to be administered to public school pupils under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Provides for exceptions if the state superintendent informs specified legislative leaders by January 2010 that the department will adopt or approve substantially redesigned exams in the 2011-12 school year. Makes provisions related to assessment of English language learners and students with disabilities applicable to private school students participating in the Milwaukee parental choice program. Also requires a governing body of a private school to excuse a student participating in the Milwaukee parental choice program from taking a state assessment. Requires the governing body of each private school participating in the Milwaukee parental choice program to develop a policy specifying criteria for granting a high school diploma to pupils participating in the choice program. Requires that the criteria include the pupil's academic performance and the recommendations of teachers. Requires the governing body of each private school participating in the Milwaukee parental choice program to develop criteria for promoting students from grade 4 to 5, and from grade 8 to 9. Requires criteria to include (1) the pupil's score on the state assessments administered in grades 4 and 8, unless the pupil has been excused by the student's parent from taking the exam; (2) the pupil's academic performance; (3) the recommendations of teachers, which must be based solely on the pupil's academic performance; (4) and any other academic criteria specified by the governing body of the private school. Provides that effective September 1, 2010 a student who does not meet the criteria may not be promoted. Defines "administrator" for purposes of voucher program. Requires all administrators in a participating private school to have at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited postsecondary institution (provides an exception for an administrator of a participating private school that prepares and trains pupils in rabbinical studies). Provides that "Progress records" has the meaning given in s. 118.125 (1) (c). Requires private schools participating in the voucher program to pay a nonrefundable fee set by the department. Adds provision that the amount of the fee must be such that the total fee revenue covers the costs of employing one full-time auditor to evaluate the financial information submitted by the private schools under the program. Increases educational requirements for teachers at private schools participating in the Milwaukee parental choice program (prior legislation required teachers to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent; new provision requires all of the private schools' teachers to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited postsecondary institution). Excludes teachers who teach only courses in rabbinical studies. Provides that if a teacher teaching at a participating private school on July 1, 2010 does not have at least a bachelor's degree and has been teaching at the private school for at least the five consecutive years leading up to July 1, 2010, the teacher may apply to the department for a temporary, nonrenewable waiver provided the teacher is working toward a bachelor's degree. Provides no waiver may extend beyond July 31, 2015. Defines "preaccreditation" for purposes of voucher program as the review and approval of an educational plan. Requires any private school that is a first-time participant in the Milwaukee parental choice program on the effective date of this Act and that is not accredited to obtain preaccreditation from the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University by August 1 of the school year in which the private school intends to participate in the program. Specifies that a private school that has obtained preaccreditation is not required to obtain accreditation. Removes the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University as a private school accreditor for purposes of the Milwaukee parental choice program. Provides that a private school accredited by any of specified accrediting bodies is not required to obtain preaccreditation from the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University as a prerequisite to providing instruction in additional grades or in an additional or new school. Adds that any private school participating in the Milwaukee parental choice program must provide at least 1,050 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 1-6 and at least 1,137 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades 7-12. Existing law provides that no more than 22,500 pupils may participate in the Milwaukee parental choice program. New provision adds that if the number of pupils being served falls below 22,500, the state superintendent must issue an order notifying participating private schools that they may begin accepting additional pupils. Defines pupils who must be considered 1st priority, 2nd priority, etc. when private schools are accepting additional pupils to reach the 22,500-pupil threshold. Amends provisions relating to the pupil application process to require a private school that rejects an application to include in the rejection notice the reason for the rejection. Adds that a private school may reject an applicant only if it has reached its maximum general capacity or seating capacity. Amends processes for reimbursing parents of participating pupils only for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. Adds provision to address paying local districts for pupils in participating private schools that close after the beginning of the school year. Requires all participating private schools to provide to all pupils and their parents specified information on the school's policies, for-profit or nonprofit status, names of private school contacts and names of members of the school's governing body or shareholders (if applicable). Requires participating private schools to annually report to the department of education specified information on pupil enrollments in the previous year, data on pupil progression from grades 4-5 and grades 8-9, and on graduation for the previous 5 years, scores on all standardized tests (to the extent permitted by federal law), and a copy of the academic standards adopted by the school. Provides that this information provided to the department must be made available to any pupil or parent upon request. Additionally requires participating private schools to: (1) Administer a department-developed reading test to all 3rd graders attending the private school through the Milwaukee parental choice program; (2) Adopt specified academic standards; (3) Develop a written policy governing visitors and visits to the private school; (4) Ensure that any teacher's aide has a high school diploma or the equivalent; (5) Annually schedule two meetings to allow parents of pupils attending or applying to attend the school to meet with members of the school's governing board and provide all parents at least 30 days written notice of this meeting; (6) Maintain progress records for each pupil attending the private school through the program, and keep these records for at least 5 years after the pupil ceases to attend the school; (7) Upon request, provide a pupil or the pupil's parent with a copy of the pupil's progress records; (8) Provide for the transfer of all participating pupils' progress records should the school cease operations as a private school; (9) Ensure that an accrediting agency reports to the department on the school's compliance with specified components. Requires pupils participating in the Milwaukee parental choice program to participate in the state assessment system beginning in the 2010-11 school year. Permits the state superintendent to issue an order barring a private school from participating in the program if he/she determines that a private school has failed to pay the aforementioned nonrefundable fee to the department, has failed to provide specified information to parents of participating students or to the department, or committed other specified violations. Pages 469-476 of 692: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/acts/09Act28.pdf Title: A.B. 75 Source: www.legis.state.wi.us OK Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Creates the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. Provide a scholarship to a private school of choice for students with disabilities for whom an individualized education program (IEP) in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has been developed. Scholarships are to be awarded beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. Allows the parent or legal guardian of a public school student with a disability may exercise their parental option and request to have a Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship awarded for the child to enroll in and attend a private school. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/HB/HB3393_ENR.RTF Title: H.B. 3393 Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us FL Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Revises provisions relating to John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; authorizes the commissioner of education to deny, suspend, or revoke private school's participation in the scholarship program if owner or operator of such school has operated educational institution in this state or another in manner contrary to health, safety, or welfare of public, etc. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1505er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1505&Session=2010 Title: H.B. 1505 - Sec. 1 Source: www.myfloridahouse.gov GA Vetoed 06/2010 P-12 Revises and clarifies language relating to the organization of schools serving grades 6, 7 and/or 8. Provides that schools serving any of those grades qualify for the middle school program for students. Eliminates provision that for students not performing on grade level, the minimum 5 hours of instruction that middle schools must provide must include remedial academic instruction in English/language arts, reading, math, science or social studies as required to bring such students to grade level performance. Eliminates provision allowing middle schools to submit a waiver request to the state board to schedule a minimum of 4.5 hours of academic instruction (instead of 5), and requiring the state board to grant such a request if the school has achieved an acceptable rating for the preceding year. Amends provisions related to the scholarship program for K-12 special needs students. Requires specific eligibility notice to be provided to parents of students with a disability each January and April via letter, e-mail and, if the school system utilizes automated telephone calls, by such automated system. Also requires the district to ensure that a student is notified at each IEP meeting. Requires the department to provide scholarship application deadline opportunities on August 1, October 1 and March 1 of each school year for a student to transfer. Requires that quarterly scholarship payments from the department be paid in equal amounts, and that if a student enrolled in the participating school after the school's start date, on or before specified dates for students entering a school during each of four specified quarters. Specifies payment procedures if a quarterly payment date is missed because a student had not been enrolled in a school at least 10 days in the prior quarter. Bill text: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb907.pdf Governor's veto message: HB 907 was originally intended to allow additional flexibility for management of middle schools, which I support. During the legislative process, however, language from another bill was added which imposes onerous requirements on the Department of Education regarding the Special Needs Voucher, most significant of which was the unqualified requirement to pay such vouchers in four equal quarterly payments. In a budget environment as challenging as this one – an environment in which public schools are being forced to operate on smaller budgets – it is not appropriate to tie administrators' hands and require them to fund vouchers fully as they seek budget flexibility elsewhere during these uncertain economic times. For these reasons, I VETO HB 907. (From http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_160096907_160291947,00.html) Title: H.B. 907 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us FL Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Amends the formula for calculating school grades to include end-of-course (EOC) assessments taken by middle school students and middle school student attainment of industry certification. Provides that student performance on statewide assessments determine school grades for purposes of differentiated accountability and Opportunity Scholarship Program eligibility (Sec. 6). Requires that performance of students designated as hospital/homebound be assigned to their home school (Sec. 29). http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1255er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1255&Session=2011 Title: H.B. 1255 - Sec. 6, 29 Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/ VT to governor 05/2010 P-12 The first part of this bill relates to incentives for voluntary school district merger, virtual merger, and supervisory union duties. The second part directs the commissioner of education to request the Regional Education Laboratory Northeast and Islands (REL-NEI) to research, analyze and, on or before January 15, 2011, report to the senate and house committees on education, the senate committee on finance, and the house committee on ways and means regarding the fiscal impacts on the education fund, the general fund, property tax rates, and school budgets as well as the effects on educational outcomes if the state were to make tuition vouchers available to all Vermont students. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/H-066.pdf Title: H.B. 66 - Two Sections Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us GA Adopted 01/2010 P-12 New Rule 160-5-1-.34 has been adopted, governing the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.34.pdf Title: 160-5-1-.34 Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Section 3301.0711(K): Requires private high schools to administer the Ohio graduation tests (regardless of whether they accept voucher students. Participation on grade 3-8 state assessments for non-voucher private school students is still permissive, not mandatory.) Section 3313.976: Makes administration of state assessments and reporting of such scores a condition of eligibility for a private school to participate in the Cleveland voucher program. Section 3313.978(G): Directs the department to annually compile the assessment scores of Cleveland voucher students. Requires scores to be aggregated by district and by private school. Requires scores to be disaggregated by age, low-income status, race/ethnicity and gender, and by students participating in the voucher program for 3+ years, 2-3 years, and 1 year or less. Requires such data to be included in information provided to students. Also requires that the parent of each voucher student receive information comparing the student's performance on the state assessments with the average performance of similar students (as regards age, grade, race/ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status) enrolled in the public school building the student would otherwise attend. Section 3310.15: Requires the department to annually post on its Web site the assessment scores of EdChoice voucher students (eligible students are those in buildings declared in a state of "academic emergency" or "academic watch" in at least two of the three most recent ratings prior to the school year in which the scholarship was sought). Requires scores to be aggregated at the state, district, and nonpublic school level. Also requires performance data to be disaggregated by age, low-income status, race/ethnicity and gender, and by students participating in the voucher program for 3+ years, 2-3 years, and 1 year or less. Requires the department of education to provide this data to parents of students eligible to participate in the voucher program. Requires that the parent of each voucher student receive information comparing the student's performance on the state assessments with the average performance of similar students (as regards age, grade, race/ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status) enrolled in the public school building the student would otherwise attend. Pages 999 (Section 3301.0711(K)), 1129-1130 (Section 3310.15), 1209 (Section 3313.976), and 1213-1214 (Section 3313.978(G) of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 3301.0711(K), 3310.15, 3313.976(11), 3313.978(G) Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Extends eligibility to participate in the educational choice scholarship pilot program to students outside eligible districts. Specifies eligible students are those in a new building in its second or third year and to which all of the following apply (or who would be enrolling in kindergarten and entering such a building, or in a community school but who would otherwise be assigned to such a building): (1) For the first school year the new building was open, at least 75% of the students had transferred directly from two or more school buildings that closed and to each of which all of the following apply: (i) The closed buildings were operated by the same school district that operates the new building (ii) The closed buildings offered at least some of the grade levels that the new building also offers (iii) The closed buildings were declared, for at least two of their last three accountability ratings, to be in a state of academic emergency or academic watch (iv) The closed buildings were not declared to be excellent or effective in their last accountability rating (2) If the new building is conducting its second school year of instruction, the building was declared, based on its first school year of instruction, to be in a state of academic emergency or academic watch (3) If the new building is conducting its third school year of instruction, the building was declared, based on either its first or second school year of instruction, to be in a state of academic emergency or academic watch, but was not declared to be excellent or effective under that section based on its second school year of instruction. Existing provision provides differentiated amount deducted from a district's payment for each student participating in the educational choice scholarship pilot program, based on whether the student is in kindergarten or grades 1-12. New provision provides flat amount ($5,200) deducted from district payment for each participating student. Increases maximum scholarship award amounts for students in grades K-8 and 9-12. Repeals language establishing method of determining maximum scholarship amount. Pages 1123-1127 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 3310.03, 3310.08 and 3310.09 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us UT Adopted 07/2009 P-12 Increases requirements related to notifying parents of students with IEPs about the availability of Carson Smith special needs scholarships to attend eligible private schools. Adds new language requiring eligible private schools that change ownership to submit a new application for eligibility to receive Carson Smith scholarship payments from the board; requires the application to demonstrate that the school continues to meet eligibility requirements established in rule. http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/bulletin/2009/20090515/32645.htm Title: R277-602 Source: www.rules.utah.gov VT Became law without governor's signature 07/2009 P-12 Among other things, this act: · Simplifies the statutory divided vote ballot language and requires that the ballot include an explanation of the reasons the vote is divided. (Secs. 6-7) · Permits the electorate of a school district to vote at a special meeting to provide notice of the availability of information (currently permitted only at annual meeting; municipalities may vote to do so at either). (Secs. 8-9) · Restores the ability of joint contract schools to access consolidation funds until July 1, 2010. (Sec. 12) · Permits a parent to request a final determination by the commissioner of education regarding payment of elementary school tuition when there is a geographical barrier to attending the district's school. (Sec. 13) · Allows parents to notify (rather than request) the school board to pay tuition to an approved independent elementary school but limits the tuition paid by the district to the least of three amounts. (Sec. 13) · Permits the electorate to authorize a district that does not maintain a public school to designate a public school as the high school for the district; continues to allow parents to request an alternative school but limits the tuition paid by the district to the least of three amounts. (Sec. 13) · Amends the definition of state-placed student to provide greater educational continuity for the student. (Secs. 14-15) · Excludes certain actions from the determination of whether a school budget must be presented by a divided vote. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/ACT044.pdf Title: H.B. 427 Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us WI Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Requires that a private school participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program adhere to policies that apply to public schools/districts regarding transfer of pupil records (i.e., requires that a private school transfer a pupil's records within five working days after receiving written notice that the pupil intends to enroll or has enrolled in the other school or district). Page 469 of 692: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/acts/09Act28.pdf Title: A.B. 75 Source: www.legis.state.wi.us/ GA Vetoed 05/2009 P-12 Amends provisions regarding educational improvement and taxation of student scholarship organizations. Provides that a student who was eligible for a P-12 private school scholarship at the time an educational scholarship or tuition grant was first received remains an eligible student so long as the student receives an educational scholarship or tuition grant from a student scholarship organization. Includes pre-kindergarten programs as programs qualified to receive scholarship students. Adds to qualifications eligible recipient schools or programs must meet. Specifies six methods by which scholarship funds may be transferred. Requires that all information or reports provided by student scholarship organizations to the department of revenue be confidential. Establishes consequences for any student scholarship organization that fails to comply with its obligations. Specifies that the department of revenue cannot take any adverse action against donors to student scholarship organizations that fail to comply with obligations if the department of revenue preapproved a donation for a tax credit prior to the date the student scholarship organization is removed from the department of education list. Makes active participation in a student scholarship organization's intentional violation of its obligations a misdemeanor. Modifies amount a taxpayer may credit for qualified education expenses to the lesser of (1) the amount actually expended or (2) 75% of the taxpayer's income tax liability. Requires each student scholarship organization to provide the department of revenue with a copy of each letter of confirmation of donation on a monthly basis. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb100.pdf Veto message (Veto Number 2): http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_139486062_140372354,00.html Title: H.B. 100 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us UT Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Modifies provisions of the Carson Smith Scholarships for Students with Special Needs Act, which provides funds for a child with a disability to attend a private school. Requires parents of eligible to be notified of the availability of a Carson Smith Scholarship within 30 days after a student initially qualifies for an IEP and each February 1 thereafter to all students who have an IEP. Requires any district, school or charter school enrolling a student with an IEP to link on the district or school site to the state site that provides prospective applicants with detailed program information and application forms for the Carson Smith Scholarship Program. Requires an approved eligible private school that changes ownership to reapply to the state board of education and demonstrate that it continues to meet the eligibility requirements of the program. http://le.utah.gov/~2009/bills/hbillenr/hb0425.pdf Title: H.B. 425 Source: le.utah.gov OH Adopted 03/2009 P-12 Rescinds and re-establishes rules regarding the Autism Scholarship Program. Relates to application and eligibility; responsibilities of a school district of residence; and application and participation of providers. 3301-103-01 Definitions: http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/103/3301-103-01_PH_FF_N_RU_20090313_1154.pdf 3301-103-02 Autism scholarship program established: http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/103/3301-103-02_PH_FF_N_RU_20090313_1154.pdf 3301-103-03 Application and eligibility to receive a scholarship: http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/103/3301-103-03_PH_FF_N_RU_20090313_1154.pdf 3301-103-04 Responsibilities of a school district of residence: http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/103/3301-103-04_PH_FF_N_RU_20090313_1154.pdf 3301-103-05 Program participation: http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/103/3301-103-05_PH_FF_N_RU_20090313_1154.pdf 3301-103-06 Application and participation of providers: http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/103/3301-103-06_PH_FF_N_RU_20090313_1154.pdf 3301-103-07 Payment under the Autism Scholarship Program: http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/103/3301-103-07_PH_FF_N_RU_20090313_1154.pdf Title: OAC 3301-103-01 thru -08 Source: www.lexis.com FL Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Expands the Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program by increasing the amount of credits and allowing the use of credits for insurance premium taxes; provides that siblings of certain students or students in foster care are eligible for participation in the program; provides that scholarship funds may be used for administrative expenses of a nonprofit scholarship funding organizations. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0653er.xml&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0653&Session=2008 Title: H.B. 653 Source: LA Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Creates the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program. Defines "covered district" as one that is found academically in crisis pursuant to R.S. 17:10.6, has had schools transfered to the jurisdiction of the Recovery School District, and is located in a parish with a population of at least 475,000 people. Provides that eligible students include those who live in a covered district, are in a family whose income does not exceed 250% of the current federal poverty guidelines, and who meet any of the following criteria: (1) Are entering kindergarten; (2) Were enrolled the previous year in an eligible grade in a school in a covered district and such school has been identified as academically unacceptable or has a school performance score or an assessment index of sixty or below; (3) Received a Student Scholarship for Educational Excellence award in the previous school year and remains otherwise eligible. Provides that for the 2008-2009 academic year, eligible students must be in grades K-3. Provides students in grades 4-12 will be eligible for scholarships as members of the K-3 cohort advance one grade level each year. Provides that a covered district that is eligible for inclusion in the program on the effective date of this Chapter must be considered a covered district for the duration of the program. Establishes eligibility criteria for nonpublic and public schools to participate in the program. Provides scholarships for eligible students to attend participating public and nonpublic schools. Provides that the scholarship amount must equal the lesser of 90% of the per pupil amount the covered district receives from combined state and local sources, or the maximum amount of tuition plus incidental or supplementary fees that are charged to non-scholarship students enrolled in such school, plus testing fees. If a scholarship recipient enrolls in a school that does not charge tuition, the scholarship amount must equal the lesser of 90% of the per pupil amount the covered district receives from state and local sources, or the participating school's actual cost of educating a student, plus testing fees. Provides for an additional scholarship amount for scholarship recipients entitled to receive special education services. Provides a maximum of $10 million for the 2008-2009 fiscal year to implement this program. Requires nonpublic schools to administer all assessments required as part of the Louisiana School and District Accountability System, including the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program, the integrated Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (iLEAP), and graduation exit examinations. Requires the department of education to report annually to the senate and house education committees and the joint legislative committee on the budget regarding program implementation, including the number of eligible students receiving scholarships, a list of participating schools and the number of scholarship recipients each such school enrolled, and aggregate test result data for the scholarship recipients enrolled in each participating school. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=503381 Title: H.B. 1347 Source: www.legis.state.la.us FL Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Postsec. Community College Relates to charter schools, the Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program, postsecondary education, school attendance, and high school graduation requirements; revises the terminology used to identify students with intellectual, emotional, or behavioral disabilities; relates to postsecondary education; deletes a provision that prohibits direct medical or pharmaceutical intervention in a regional autism center. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1313er.xml&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1313&Session=2008 Title: H.B. 1313 Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/default.aspx GA Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Enacts the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act to provide scholarships for public school students with disabilities to attend eligible private schools. Establishes student eligibility requirements and requirements for private schools to participate in the scholarship program. Provides that the maximum scholarship granted a scholarship student must be equivalent to the costs of the educational program that would have been provided for the student in the resident school district, not including any federal funds. Provides that the scholarship amount must be the lesser of (1) the educational program costs in the resident school district or (2) the amount of the participating school´s tuition and fees. Authorizes the department of education to bar a school from participation in the program if the department determines that the school has intentionally and substantially misrepresented information or failed to refund to the state any scholarship overpayments in a timely manner. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb10.pdf Title: S.B. 10 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us UT Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Amends the Parent Choice in Education Program that awards scholarships to students to attend a private school; modifies the criteria for qualifying for a scholarship and the criteria for private schools to enroll scholarship students; modifies provisions relating to the State Board of Education's oversight of the program; requires the legislative auditor general to conduct a review and issue a report on the program after the conclusion of the 2011-12 school year; requires that amendments in this bill supersede applicable sections of HB 148, which also passed and was signed into law. http://le.utah.gov/~2007/bills/hbillenr/hb0174.htm (HB 174); http://le.utah.gov/~2007/bills/hbillenr/hb0148.htm (HB 148) Title: H.B. 174 Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us/ UT Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Establishes the state school voucher program, which provides scholarships for students to attend a private school; specifies criteria for qualifying for a scholarship; specifies criteria for private schools to enroll scholarship students; specifies the amount, timing, and form of scholarship payments (amount ranges from $500 to $3,000, depending on eligibility); requires the state board to make rules regarding the program and have enforcement authority over it; requires the Legislature to annually appropriate money from the General Fund for scholarship payments (Fiscal Note for H.B. 148: $100,000 in FY 2007; $9.4 million in FY 2008; $12.4 million in FY 2009). Allows a school district to retain in enrollment a student who transfers to a private school for a period of five years, with a deduction equal to the average scholarship amount. See also HB 174, which amends this bill and was signed into law during the 2007 legislative session. H.B. 174 specifies that transportation is a parent responsibility; adds a provision requiring participating private schools to employ teachers who have completed a criminal background check; adds a provision that makes a school that encourages illegal conduct ineligible for the program. This bill does not include section 53A-1a-807 (mitigation monies meant to address potential impacts due to unplanned reduction in revenues); does not include 53A-1a-809 (provisions related to the requirement of signed affidavits from private schools, penalties for enforcement and investigation of complaints); and does not include 53A-1a-811 (requirement that legislative auditor review and report on the Parent Choice in Education Program). H.B. 174 specifies that, ". . . amendments to the sections in this bill supersede the amendments to the same numbered sections in H.B. 148 when the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel prepares the Utah Code database for publication." H.B. 148: http://le.utah.gov/~2007/bills/hbillenr/hb0148.htm H.B. 174: http://le.utah.gov/~2007/bills/hbillenr/hb0174.htm (HB 174) Title: H.B. 148, H.B. 174 Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us/ OH Signed into law 12/2006 P-12 Sets a number of 14,000 scholarships and amends priorities for distribution, particularly for when the applications exceed the number of available scholarships. Amendments focus on eligibility of students in low-performing schools. See full text for details (attached). From fiscal notes: Am. Sub. H.B. 66 of the 126th General Assembly established the new Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program and authorized the award of up to 14,000 scholarships in FY 2007, which can be used to attend participating nonpublic schools.  The bill establishes 14,000 as the maximum number of scholarships for future years as well as FY 2007.  Under current law, first time scholarships are generally available to students who attend or who would otherwise be entitled to attend a school that has been in academic emergency or academic watch for three or more consecutive years.  The bill modifies this eligibility criteria so that first time scholarships are generally available to students who attend or who would otherwise be entitled to attend a school that has been in academic emergency or academic watch for two of the last three years, thus expanding the number of eligible students.  The bill makes other more minor changes in the eligibility criteria, which may also expand the number of students eligible for and choosing to receive scholarships. According to ODE, approximately 3,100 students were awarded scholarships for FY 2007.   The amount awarded for each scholarship is the lesser of the actual tuition charges of the school or the maximum scholarship award.  H.B. 66 set the maximum scholarship award at $4,250 for grades K-8 and at $5,000 for grades 9-12 in FY 2007.  In subsequent years, these amounts are to increase by the same percentage as the increase in the base cost formula amount for school districts.  Scholarship students are counted in the resident district's average daily membership (ADM) in order to calculate base cost funding, so that the districts generally will be credited with $5,403 per student in FY 2007.  Kindergarten students are counted in ADM as one-half student, reflecting the traditional half-day kindergarten program.  As a result, a kindergarten student generates about $2,702 in state base cost funding in FY 2007.  An amount equal to $5,200 will be deducted from the resident district's state aid for each scholarship student in grades first through twelfth and $2,700 for each scholarship student in kindergarten.  Therefore, a district generally will be credited with more state aid than is deducted for each scholarship student.  The bill requires that ODE adjust the ADM of the district if a scholarship is awarded to a student that, for whatever reason, was not included in the district's original ADM.  This provision ensures that the district is credited with the appropriate amount of state aid.  To the extent that the bill increases the number of scholarships awarded, school districts and community schools will experience decreases in state aid.  Although school districts and community schools with scholarship students have fewer students to educate, they may not be able to decrease their expenditures to match their state aid loss ($5,200 for students in grades 1-12 and $2,700 for students in kindergarten), especially in the short run.  http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_HB_79 Title: H.B. 79 -- Section Sec. 3310.02, Source: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us AZ Vetoed 06/2006 P-12 Relates to school tuition organization tax credits; provides a limit a taxpayer may contribute to a school tuition organization; provides that a school tuition organization shall not request preapproval; provides that approval shall not be given to requests that exceed the prescribed limit; amends provisions regarding a preapproved contribution amount. Title: S.B. 1071 Source: Arizona Legislature AZ Signed into law 06/2006 Postsec. Establishes the displaced pupils choice grant program under which each custodian of a qualifying pupil who completes an application for a grant shall receive a grant for tuition and educational fees; provides that a pupil is eligible to receive the grant if the pupil has been placed in foster care at any time before the pupil graduates from high school or obtains an equivalency diploma; includes a preschool for handicapped students; provides that such grants shall not be considered taxable income. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/47leg/2r/bills/sb1164c.pdf Title: S.B. 1164 Source: Arizona Legislature AZ Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Establishes a funded state program of scholarships for pupils with disabilities; provides such students with the option of attending or receiving a scholarship to any qualified school of the pupil's choice; provides that notwithstanding prescribed enrollment policies or desegregation provisions, a school district or charter school shall enroll any child pursuant to this Article; amends provisions regarding student transportation; provides for parental involvement; provides for testing. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/47leg/2r/bills/hb2676h.pdf Title: H.B. 2676 Source: Arizona Legislature CT Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Relates to tax credits for donations of computer equipment to nonpublic schools; provides that any business firm may apply for such tax credit. Public Act No. 145 Title: S.B. 378 Source: Connecticut Legislature VT Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Directs the commissioner of education to work with education administrators to study the actual costs of providing services to elementary and secondary pupils and, on or before January 30, 2007, to make a recommendation to the general assembly regarding weighting of these pupils. Directs the commissioner of education to study the effect of the provisions of 32 V.S.A. § 5401(12) and (13), relating to excess spending in school districts and district spending adjustment, on various types of school districts such as those that provide for the education of a significant portion or all of their students through paying tuition and those that have a small number of students.  As part of the study, requires the commissioner to consider the effect of removing the portion of secondary technical education tuition which is in excess of the district's equalized per pupil spending from the calculation of excess spending, and the effect of removing interest payments made on funds borrowed in anticipation of capital construction aid from the calculation of district spending adjustment.  Requires the commissioner to report the results of the study to the general assembly by January 30, 2007. Directs the commissioner of education to study alternatives for computing education spending, including alternative methods for counting the average daily membership and to report the results of the study to the general assembly by January 30, 2007. Directs the commissioner of education to work with Vermont educators and the state board to study the quality of Vermont public schools and independent schools which receive public funds and to study and analyze methods to reduce costs and to deliver the results of the analysis and recommendations for legislative action to the senate and house committees on education by January 30, 2007. Directs the commissioner of education to report to the senate and house committees on education by January 30, 2007 regarding recommendations, if any, for amendments to Title 16 provisions addressing school district auditing requirements, including the frequency and scope.  In developing the recommendations, requires the commissioner to confer with the state auditor of accounts and with representatives of the Vermont association of school business officials, the Vermont superintendents association, and the Vermont school boards association. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM Title: H.B. 867 - Section 20 (a) through (f) Source: www.leg.state.vt.us VT Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Provides that, notwithstanding the restrictions of 16 V.S.A. § 822(c), a town school district which is a member of a union school district and which has historically paid tuition for resident grade 7–12 students attending public and independent schools outside the union high school district, as authorized by the attorney general's opinion No. 13 of July 30, 1954 and section 4339, V.S. 1947, may continue to do so in accordance with the provisions of 16 V.S.A. § 824.  Directs the town school district to pay a tuition amount which does not exceed the average announced tuition of Vermont union school districts for grades 7 and 8 or grades 9–12 as appropriate.  Clarifies that it is the intent of the general assembly to authorize a town school district which has historically both belonged to a union school and provided for education of its students by paying tuition to continue the practice and not to authorize the practice in other school districts. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM Title: H.B. 867 - Section 28 Source: www.leg.state.vt.us WI Vetoed 04/2006 P-12 Relates to the number of pupils eligible to participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program regarding entry into private schools. Bill: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05enAB0003.pdf Amendment memo: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/lc_amdt/ab003.pdf Title: A.B. 3 Source: www.legis.state.wi.us UT Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Modifies the State System of Public Education Code by amending provisions of the Carson Smith Scholarship Program; modifies scholarship qualification provisions; requires notification to parents or guardians of the availability of scholarships; modifies eligible private school audit provisions. http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/bills/hbillenr/hb0351.pdf Title: H.B. 351 Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us WI Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Under current law, the number of pupils who may attend a private school under the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) is capped at 15 percent of the enrollment of the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). If in any school year there are more spaces available in the private schools participating in the MPCP than the maximum number of pupils allowed to attend the private schools under the MPCP, the law directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to prorate the number of spaces available at each participating private school. This bill provides that the number of pupils who attend private schools under the MPCP may not exceed 22,500. That number is to be determined in the same manner as public school enrollment is determined; for example, most kindergarten pupils are counted as 0.5 pupil. Under current law, to participate in the MPCP, a pupil must be a member of a family with a total family income of no more than 1.75 times the federal poverty level. This bill allows a pupil to continue to attend an MPCP school if the pupil's family income does not exceed 2.2 times the federal poverty level. The bill also provides that siblings of pupils attending an MPCP school are subject to the higher limit. Under current law, a pupil may participate in the MPCP only if, in the previous school year, the pupil was enrolled in the MPS, was attending a private school under the MPCP, was enrolled in grades kindergarten to three in a private school located in the city of Milwaukee other than under the MPCP, or was not enrolled in school. This bill eliminates this eligibility requirement. This bill requires a private school participating in the MPCP to administer nationally normed, standardized tests in reading, science, and mathematics to the pupils attending the school in the fourth, eighth, and tenth grades under the MPCP. Beginning in 2006 and annually thereafter until 2011, the private school must provide the scores of all standardized tests that it has administered to the School Choice Demonstration Project, currently at Georgetown University. The bill directs the Legislative Audit Bureau, based upon the standardized test score data that it receives from the project, to review and analyze the test score data and submit reports to the legislature annually from 2007 to 2011. The reports must include the results of various tests, including standardized state tests administered to representative samples of pupils in the MPCP and pupils enrolled in the MPS. Act 125. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act125.pdf Title: Act. No. 125 Source: http://www.legis.state.wi.us AZ Became law without governor's signature 03/2006 P-12 Creates a corporate income tax credit for contributions made to an school tuition organization (STO) for educational scholarships and tuition grants to low-income children.  This credit is annually capped at $5 million starting FY 2006-2007. In 1997, the Legislature created two tax credits for individual taxpayers. First, a credit for up to $200 for a single individual taxpayer is available for a taxpayer who pays fees or makes a cash contribution to an Arizona public school for the support of extracurricular activities and character education programs.  The second credit available to individuals is a credit for up to $500 for a single individual taxpayer who makes a cash contribution to a school tuition organization (STO).  Businesses were not eligible for these credits. http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/47leg/2r/summary/s.1499fin_aspassedbysenate.doc.htm Title: S.B. 1499 Source: Arizona Legislative Web Site OH Adopted 02/2006 P-12 The purpose of these rules is to prescribe procedures for the administration and implementation of the educational choice scholarship pilot program established by the general assembly in section 3310.16 of the Revised Code. The program shall pay scholarships for up to the number of eligible students prescribed by the general assembly to attend chartered nonpublic schools. The program is established as one of several educational options available for students in academic emergency school buildings. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/11/3301-11-02_PH_FF_N_RU_20060214_1441.pdf Title: OAC 3301-35-01 thru -07, -09 thru -14 Source: http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us WI Vetoed 09/2005 P-12 An Act to amend 119.23 (2) (b), relating to: the number of pupils eligible to participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. This bill eliminates the 15 percent cap for the 2005-06 school year. The bill provides that the number of pupils who attend private schools under the program in the 2006-07 school year or in any school year thereafter may not exceed the number who did so in the 2005-06 school year. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-3.pdf Title: H.B. 3 Source: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/ WI Vetoed 05/2005 P-12 Under current law, the number of pupils who may attend a private school under the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program is capped at 15 percent of the enrollment of the Milwaukee Public Schools (approximately 15,000 pupils). If in any school year there are more spaces available in the private schools participating in the program than the maximum number of pupils allowed to attend the private schools under the program, the law directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to prorate the number of spaces available at each participating private school. This bill eliminates the 15 percent cap for the 2005-06 school year. The bill provides that the number of pupils who attend private schools under the program in the 2006-07 school year or in any school year thereafter may not exceed the number who did so in the 2005-06 school year. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-3.pdf Title: AB 3 Source: http://www.legis.state.wi.us KS Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Postsec. Allows the board of education of any school district, any teacher of mathematics, science, physics, chemistry or biology, and a business firm to enter a partnership agreement under which such business firm agrees to employ such teacher in a position that requires mathematics or science skills commensurate with the classes that the teacher regularly teaches when school is not regularly in session. Provides the business with a state income tax credit of 25%, or 30% for a teacher teaching in a school district in a rural community, underserved area, or underperforming urban area. Limits the total amount of credits for the program per fiscal year to $500,000. Limits the total amount of credits per congressional district to $125,000. Establishes the mathematics and science teacher service scholarship program, which grants up to 50 new scholarships each year to qualified students who are Kansas residents working toward certification to teach math or science in grades 6-12 and who agree to teach in an accredited public or private school in Kansas for at least four years. Creates in the state treasury the mathematics and science teacher service scholarship program fund and the mathematics and science teacher service scholarship repayment fund. Full text: http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2006/138.pdf Fiscal note: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-bills/showBill.do?id=36145 Supplemental note: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-bills/showBill.do?id=38088 Title: S.B. 138 Source: www.kslegislature.org AZ Vetoed 03/2005 P-12 After December 31, 2005, allows a taxpayer to deduct from his/her tax penalty any amount of voluntary cash contributions up to $10,000 made by the taxpayer to a school tuition organization, and a portion of contributions of $10,000 or more. Prohibits the department from allowing tax credits for contributions in any calendar year that exceed specified amounts. Sets forth procedures for donors and the school tuition organization governing the making and accepting of tax credit contributions. Specifies that a tax credit is not allowed for any contribution to the school tuition organization for the direct benefit of any specific student. Requires a portion of donations to school tuition organizations to go towards scholarships to low-income students that meet additional qualifications. Sets forth reporting requirements for school tuition organizations. Sets limit for amount of any tuition grant or scholarship awarded by a school tuition organization in 2006 and subsequent years. http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=2379 Title: H.B. 2379 Source: www.azleg.state.az.us UT Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Creates a program to award scholarships to students with disabilities who attend a private school. Specifies criteria for qualifying for a scholarship; specifies criteria for private schools to enroll scholarship students; specifies the amount, timing, and form of scholarship payments; requires the state board to make rules; gives the state board enforcement authority; and requires the Legislature to annually appropriate money from the General Fund for scholarship payments. http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2005/bills/hbillenr/hb0249.pdf Title: H.B. 249 Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us WI Emergency Rule Adoption 07/2004 P-12 Establishes emergency rules regarding financial reporting requirements under the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. WISCONSIN REG 20410 (SN) Title: PI 35 Source: StateNet NH Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Establishes a committee to study the issue of school choice in New Hampshire any issue relating to school choice which it deems relevant. Requires the committee to report its findings and recommendations by November 30, 2004. http://gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2004/HB0727.html Title: H.B. 727 Source: gencourt.state.nh.us WI Assembly Sustained Governor's Veto 05/2004 P-12 Relates to eligibility for participation in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. (Governor vetoed in November 2003; veto sustained in May 2004) Title: A.B. 259 Source: StateNet IA Vetoed 05/2004 P-12 Allows individual income tax credits for contributions made to certain school tuition organizations and including an applicability date provision. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&hbill=SF2295 Title: S.F. 2295 Source: StateNet CO Signed into law 05/2004 Postsec. Community College Establishes the College Opportunity Fund Program; requires each state and private institution of higher education which does not receive loan services through the Colorado Student Loan Program to pay an implementation fee and an on going disbursement fee; specifies the college opportunity fund shall be trust fund for eligible undergraduate students. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2004a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont2/e1e067acaeb853c887256df8005f11e2?OpenDocument&Click=87256D6C00679B13.b925f7d822283ac087256dd3003efcdb/$Body/1.2 Title: S.B. 189 Source: Colorado Legislative Web site UT Vetoed 03/2004 P-12 Creates a program to award scholarships to students with disabilities who attend a private school; specifies criteria for qualifying for a scholarship; specifies criteria for private schools to enroll scholarship students; specifies the amount, timing, and form of scholarship payments. Title: H.B. 115 Source: StateNet WI Vetoed 03/2004 P-12 Requires a private school participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to conduct a criminal background check on each new employee and all existing employees; requires a private school to submit a copy of the school's certificate of occupancy issued by the city of Milwaukee and evidence of sound fiscal practices. Title: A.B. 836 Source: StateNet WI Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Relate the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program; requires a private school to conduct a criminal background check on all persons employed as instructional staff; requires a private school to submit to the Department of Public Instruction a copy of the school's certificate of occupancy issued by the city of Milwaukee, proof that the administrator of the school participated in a fiscal management training program, and evidence of sound fiscal practices. Title: A.B. 847 Source: StateNet WI Vetoed 11/2003 P-12 Extends the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to all private schools in Milwaukee County. Title: A.B. 260 Source: StateNet WI Vetoed 11/2003 P-12 Directs the Legislative Audit Bureau to administer a study of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Title: A.B. 126 Source: StateNet WI Vetoed 11/2003 P-12 Relates to the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program income limit. (Governor vetoed in November 2003; Assembly sustained veto in May 2004) Title: A.B. 472 Source: StateNet OH Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Funding Formula: Eliminates the requirement that the General Assembly recalculate the base funding amount every six years. Eliminates school districts ability to calculate their student enrollment on a three year rolling basis. Requires the Department to develop a new method for determining school district attendance rates. Decreases the annual inflation factor in the funding formula from 2.8% to 2.2%. Vouchers: Increases the amount of the Pilot Scholarship Program (Cleveland Vouchers) from $2,500 to $3,000. Allows for 9th and 10th graders to qualify for the Cleveland Vouchers and increases the amount of private tuition that parents can be required to pay in addition to the funds provided by the voucher. Charters: Requires the state to pay charter schools, instead of school districts, for each enrolled student. In addition states are to subtract funding for each student who leaves a district school to attend a charter school. Title: H.B. 95 Source: Digest of Enactments 2003 CO Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Modifies the eligibility criteria for children in grades 1 through 3 for purposes of the "Colorado Opportunity Contract Pilot Program" (HB03-1160) to require a child to have been continuously attending a public school during the previous school year and has been assessed below grade level on reading readiness or literacy and reading comprehension. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/4295E920CFF3C36387256D080063EA0F?Open&file=1369_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1369 Source: Colorado Legislative web site CO Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Establishes the "Colorado Opportunity Contract Pilot Program" beginning in the '04-'05 school year, which requires school districts with eight or more low or unsatisfactory schools to allow eligible students to attend a participating nonpublic school under the terms of an opportunity contract between the child's parent and the school. Eligible students are those eligible for free- or reduced-cost school lunches who received an unsatisfactory rating on the state reading or math assessment. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/billcontainers/1CD19B474697FA4C87256C68004FC76C/$FILE/1160_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1160 Source: Colorado Legislative Web site LA Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Revises the individual income tax credit for child care expenses and educational costs. Title: H.B. 238 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CO Signed into law 04/2002 Postsec. Concerns modifications to the state income tax credit available to Colorado taxpayers who make monetary contributions to the Colorado Institute of Technology; clarifies the amount of the credit that may be claimed; requires submission of certain documentation when claiming the credit; delays the applicability of the credit for one year; corrects the name of the institute to which contributions are to be made in order to qualify for the credit. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2002a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/F3045117CEFD624C87256AFB0056B030?Open&file=1059_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1059 Source: www.leg.state.co.us CA Rejected by voters 11/2000 P-12 PROPOSITION 38 Amends State Constitution. Authorizes State-funded $ 4000-per-pupil annual payments to qualifying private and religious schools as grants for new enrollees, and partial grants for children enrolled in private schools before the measure's approval. Permits Legislature to increase amounts annually. Repeals voter-approved Constitutional funding priority of public schools. Limits funding guarantees to years when specified conditions occur. Title: V. 25 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MI Rejected by voters 11/2000 P-12 A proposed amendment to the Michigan constitution to provide for guaranteed school funding, teacher testing, and school choice. The amendment would alter Article VIII, Section 2 and create a new article VIII, Section 10. Title: V. 1 Source: Lexis-Nexis CA On 11/07/2000 ballot 06/2000 P-12 INITIATIVE 844; Authorizes state-funded $ 4000-per-pupil annual payments to qualifying private and religious schools as grants for new enrollees, and partial grants for children enrolled in private schools before the measure's approval. Permits legislature to increase amounts annually. Repeals voter-approved Constitutional funding priority of public schools. Limits minimum State funding guarantees for public schools to years when specified conditions occur. Title: V. 25 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AZ Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Relates to individual income tax credits for tuition paid for preschool for children with disabilities; defines "handicapped" student as a student who is hearing impaired, visually impaired, preschool moderately delayed, preschool severely delayed, and preschool speech or language delayed; adds preschools for students with disabilities to the qualified schools for which the tax credits can be claimed. Title: H.B. 2226 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet