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


Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203-3442 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

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
PASigned into law 07/2012P-12Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program
H.B. 0761
Modifies tax code to provide the means for low- and moderate-income students (185% of poverty) who reside in the attendance boundary of a lo...

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OHSigned into law 06/2012P-12Educational Choice (EdChoice) Scholarship Pilot Program
S.B. 316 - Educational Choice (EdChoice) Scholarship Pilot Program
Extends eligibility for an EdChoice Scholarship to a student outside Cleveland who is enrolled in a nonpublic school at the time the state b...

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OHSigned into law 06/2012P-12Cleveland Voucher Program
S.B. 316 - Cleveland Voucher Program
Requires Cleveland pilot project scholarship (voucher) students' performance data to be disaggregated, among other factors, by grade level (...

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OHSigned into law 06/2012P-12Autism Scholarship and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Programs
S.B. 316 - Autism Scholarship and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Programs
Each time a child's district completes evaluation for a child with a disability or undertakes the development, review, or revision of the ch...

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OHSigned into law 06/2012P-12EdChoice Vouchers in 2012-13
S.B. 316 - EdChoice Vouchers in 2012-13
Directs the department to conduct a second Educational Choice Scholarship application period for the 2012-2013 school year to award scholars...

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OKSigned into law 05/2012P-12Special Education Task Force and Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
H.B. 3090
Creates the Rethinking Special Education Competency and Transition Task Force. The task force will focus on improved educational services an...

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LASigned into law 05/2012P-12School Choice Pilot Program for Students with Disabilities
H.B. 911
Creates a permanent program out of the two-year School Choice Pilot Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities. The program is desig...

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MSSigned into law 05/2012P-12Screening and Scholarships for Students with Dyslexia
H.B. 1031
Establishes the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship For Students With Dyslexia program. Outlines student eligibility requirements for r...

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VASigned into law 05/2012P-12Educational Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits
H.B. 321
Establishes a credit beginning in taxable year 2012 for corporations donating cash or property to nonprofit organizations providing educatio...

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AZSigned into law 05/2012P-12Arizona Empowerment Scholarship
H.B. 2622
Requires that a parent or guardian sign a contract to participate in an Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account if he/she does not plan to e...

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GAVetoed 05/2012P-12Scholarship Program for Special Needs Students
H.B. 181
Specifies the language school systems must use to notify parents of a child's potential eligibility for a Georgia Special Needs Scholarship....

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LASigned into law 04/2012P-12School Choice and Voucher Program
H.B. 976
Expands the current choice program, Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, beyond schools in the New Orleans district to s...

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VASigned into law 04/2012P-12Education Improvement Scholarships
S.B. 131
Establishes a credit beginning in taxable year 2013 for individuals, business entities, and corporations making monetary donations to nonpro...

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WISigned into law 04/2012P-12Parental Choice Program - Limits Participation of School Districts
S.B. 174
Closing the parental choice program for eligible school districts to additional school districts. Provides that no school district that has ...

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INSigned into law 03/2012P-12Certified Scholarship Program Eligibility.
S.B. 296
Provides that an individual is eligible for a scholarship from a scholarship program that is certified by the department of education if the...

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INSigned into law 03/2012P-12Nonpublic to Public Student Records Transfer, Charter Start-up Grants
H.B. 1189
Requires an accredited nonpublic school to provide sufficient verbal information to permit a requesting school to which a child transfers to...

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UTSigned into law 03/2012P-12Study of Programs/Initiatives to Assist Students At Risk of Academic Failure
S.B. 151
Directs the education interim committee to conduct a study of programs and initiatives to assist students at risk of academic failure, inclu...

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WISigned into law 02/2012P-12Timelines for Application to Nonresident Schools
S.B. 2 - Choice of Schools Provision
This portion of S.B. 2 establishes timelines for student application to nonresident school and for schools to respond to students making the...

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WISigned into law 11/2011P-12Changes to the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and the Choice Program for Eligible School Districts
S.B. 234
Requires private schools participating in either the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program or the Choice Program for Eligible School districts t...

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OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Background Checks at Certain Schools
H.B. 153 - Background Checks at Certain Schools
Requires that staff at a nonpublic school participating in the Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program or at a college-preparatory bo...

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OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program
H.B. 153 - Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program
Amends various provisions of the Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program (voucher for students in low-performing schools, not Cleveland...

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OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Autism Scholarship Program
H.B. 153 - Autism Scholarship Program
Specifies that the services provided under the scholarship must include an educational component. Pages 74-77 of 1000: http://www.legislatur...

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OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program
H.B. 153 - Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program
Establishes the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program, effective with the 2012-13 school year, for K-12 students with disabilities ...

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OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Cleveland Voucher Program
H.B. 153 - Cleveland Voucher Program
Makes changes to the "pilot project scholarship program" (Cleveland voucher program). Expands eligibility to new applicants through grade 12...

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OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Parental Rights and Special Education
H.B. 153 - Parental Rights and Special Education
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 an...

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NHBecame law without governor's signature 06/2011P-12Charter School Requirements and Tuition
S.B. 82
Permits the state board of education to grant charter status to all applicants that meet the requirements (removing quota of 20 schools duri...

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FLSigned into law 06/2011P-12Expands Eligibility for the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program
H.B. 1329
Expands eligibility for the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program to students with disabilities who have 504 acc...

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FLSigned into law 06/2011P-12Expands Definition of Failing School for Purposes of Student Eligibility for the Opportunity Scholarship Program
H.B. 1331
From House of Representatives Staff Analysis: Expands the definition of a failing school for purposes of student eligibility for the Opportu...

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WISigned into law 06/2011P-12Parental Choice Program
A.B. 40 (Act 32) - Budget Bill
Appropriates funding for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) and choice programs in other eligible school districts (the latter is ...

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OKSigned into law 05/2011P-12Amends Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
H.B. 1744
Parents requesting a Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities must make their request no later than December 1 of the...

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INSigned into law 05/2011P-12Vouchers
H.B. 1003
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 ...

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AZSigned into law 04/2011P-12Empowerment Scholarship
S.B. 1553
Amends Title 15, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding chapter 19 creating a "scholarship account" program providing options for K-12 students...

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PASigned into law 11/2010P-12Tuitioning for Students from Districts Under Fiscal Distress
S.B. 441 - Amending Section 1607
Not a traditional voucher, but does provide tuition for students to attend school in another district under a tuition arrangement. From the ...

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WISigned into law 06/2010P-12Voucher Programs
A.B. 75
Requires the governing board of every private school participating in the Milwaukee parental choice program to adopt pupil academic standard...

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OKSigned into law 06/2010P-12Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program
H.B. 3393
Creates the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. Provide a scholarship to a private school of choice fo...

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FLSigned into law 06/2010P-12Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Revisions
H.B. 1505 - Sec. 1
Revises provisions relating to John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; authorizes the commissioner of education t...

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GAVetoed 06/2010P-12Middle School and Academic Instruction per Day
H.B. 907
Revises and clarifies language relating to the organization of schools serving grades 6, 7 and/or 8. Provides that schools serving any of th...

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FLSigned into law 06/2010P-12School Grades
H.B. 1255 - Sec. 6, 29
Amends the formula for calculating school grades to include end-of-course (EOC) assessments taken by middle school students and middle schoo...

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VTto governor 05/2010P-12Incentives for District Mergers, Study of Tuition Vouchers
H.B. 66 - Two Sections
The first part of this bill relates to incentives for voluntary school district merger, virtual merger, and supervisory union duties. The se...

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GAAdopted 01/2010P-12Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program
160-5-1-.34
New Rule 160-5-1-.34 has been adopted, governing the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/lega...

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OHSigned into law 07/2009P-12Data on Voucher Students' Performance
H.B. 1 - Section 3301.0711(K), 3310.15, 3313.976(11), 3313.978(G)
Section 3301.0711(K): Requires private high schools to administer the Ohio graduation tests (regardless of whether they accept voucher stude...

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OHSigned into law 07/2009P-12Voucher Program Participation
H.B. 1 - Section 3310.03, 3310.08 and 3310.09
Extends eligibility to participate in the educational choice scholarship pilot program to students outside eligible districts. Specifies eli...

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UTAdopted 07/2009P-12Special Needs Scholarships Procedures
R277-602
Increases requirements related to notifying parents of students with IEPs about the availability of Carson Smith special needs scholarships ...

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VTBecame law without governor's signature 07/2009P-12
H.B. 427
Among other things, this act:
· Simplifies the statutory divided vote ballot language and requires that the ballot include an explanation o...

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WISigned into law 06/2009P-12Milwaukee Parental Choice Program
A.B. 75
Requires that a private school participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program adhere to policies that apply to public schools/distri...

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GAVetoed 05/2009P-12Vouchers
H.B. 100
Amends provisions regarding educational improvement and taxation of student scholarship organizations. Provides that a student who was eligi...

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UTSigned into law 03/2009P-12Special Needs Scholarships
H.B. 425
Modifies provisions of the Carson Smith Scholarships for Students with Special Needs Act, which provides funds for a child with a disability...

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OHAdopted 03/2009P-12Autism Scholarship Program
OAC 3301-103-01 thru -08
Rescinds and re-establishes rules regarding the Autism Scholarship Program. Relates to application and eligibility; responsibilities of a sc...

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FLSigned into law 06/2008P-12Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarships
H.B. 653
Expands the Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program by increasing the amount of credits and allowing the use of credits for insuranc...

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LASigned into law 06/2008P-12Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program
H.B. 1347
Creates the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program. Defines "covered district" as one that is found academically in crisis ...

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FLSigned into law 06/2008P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Student w/ Disabilies Policies
H.B. 1313
Relates to charter schools, the Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program, postsecondary education, school attendance, and high sc...

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GASigned into law 05/2007P-12Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act
S.B. 10
Enacts the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act to provide scholarships for public school students with disabilities to attend eligible pri...

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UTSigned into law 03/2007P-12Education Voucher Program Amendments
H.B. 174
Amends the Parent Choice in Education Program that awards scholarships to students to attend a private school; modifies the criteria for qua...

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UTSigned into law 02/2007P-12Parent Choice in Education program
H.B. 148, H.B. 174
Establishes the state school voucher program, which provides scholarships for students to attend a private school; specifies criteria for qu...

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OHSigned into law 12/2006P-12Amends Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program
H.B. 79 -- Section Sec. 3310.02,
Sets a number of 14,000 scholarships and amends priorities for distribution, particularly for when the applications exceed the number of ava...

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AZVetoed 06/2006P-12Tuition Tax Credits
S.B. 1071
Relates to school tuition organization tax credits; provides a limit a taxpayer may contribute to a school tuition organization; provides th...

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AZSigned into law 06/2006Postsec.Tuition Grants for At Risk and Foster Children
S.B. 1164
Establishes the displaced pupils choice grant program under which each custodian of a qualifying pupil who completes an application for a gr...

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AZSigned into law 06/2006P-12Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
H.B. 2676
Establishes a funded state program of scholarships for pupils with disabilities; provides such students with the option of attending or rece...

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CTSigned into law 06/2006P-12Tax Credits for Donations to Nonpublic Schools
S.B. 378
Relates to tax credits for donations of computer equipment to nonpublic schools; provides that any business firm may apply for such tax cred...

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VTSigned into law 05/2006P-12School Finance
H.B. 867 - Section 20 (a) through (f)
Directs the commissioner of education to work with education administrators to study the actual costs of providing services to elementary an...

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VTSigned into law 05/2006P-12High School Tuitioning
H.B. 867 - Section 28
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 a...

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WIVetoed 04/2006P-12Number of Eligible Voucher Students
A.B. 3
Relates to the number of pupils eligible to participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program regarding entry into private schools. Bill:...

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UTSigned into law 03/2006P-12Modifies Carson Smith Scholarship Program
H.B. 351
Modifies the State System of Public Education Code by amending provisions of the Carson Smith Scholarship Program; modifies scholarship qual...

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WISigned into law 03/2006P-12Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP)
Act. No. 125
Under current law, the number of pupils who may attend a private school under the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) is capped at 15 p...

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AZBecame law without governor's signature 03/2006P-12Corporate Income Tax Credit for Schools
S.B. 1499
Creates a corporate income tax credit for contributions made to an school tuition organization (STO) for educational scholarships and tuitio...

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OHAdopted 02/2006P-12Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program
OAC 3301-35-01 thru -07, -09 thru -14
The purpose of these rules is to prescribe procedures for the administration and implementation of the educational choice scholarship pilot ...

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WIVetoed 09/2005P-12Pupils Eligible for Milwaukee Parental Choice
H.B. 3
An Act to amend 119.23 (2) (b), relating to: the number of pupils eligible to participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. This bil...

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WIVetoed 05/2005P-12Cap on Milwaukee Vouchers
AB 3
Under current law, the number of pupils who may attend a private school under the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program is capped at 15 percent ...

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KSSigned into law 04/2005P-12
Postsec.
Math and Science Teacher Scholarships
S.B. 138
Allows the board of education of any school district, any teacher of mathematics, science, physics, chemistry or biology, and a business fir...

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AZVetoed 03/2005P-12Tax Credits
H.B. 2379
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 ...

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UTSigned into law 03/2005P-12Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarships
H.B. 249
Creates a program to award scholarships to students with disabilities who attend a private school. Specifies criteria for qualifying for a s...

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WIEmergency Rule Adoption 07/2004P-12Financial Reporting Requirements
PI 35
Establishes emergency rules regarding financial reporting requirements under the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. WISCONSIN REG 20410 (SN)...

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NHSigned into law 06/2004P-12School Choice Committee
H.B. 727
Establishes a committee to study the issue of school choice in New Hampshire any issue relating to school choice which it deems relevant. R...

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WIAssembly Sustained Governor's Veto 05/2004P-12Parental Choice Program
A.B. 259
Relates to eligibility for participation in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. (Governor vetoed in November 2003; veto sustained in May ...

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IAVetoed 05/2004P-12Tax Credits
S.F. 2295
Allows individual income tax credits for contributions made to certain school tuition organizations and including an applicability date prov...

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COSigned into law 05/2004Postsec.
Community College
College Opportunity Fund Program
S.B. 189
Establishes the College Opportunity Fund Program; requires each state and private institution of higher education which does not receive loa...

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UTVetoed 03/2004P-12Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarships
H.B. 115
Creates a program to award scholarships to students with disabilities who attend a private school; specifies criteria for qualifying for a s...

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WIVetoed 03/2004P-12Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Amendments
A.B. 836
Requires a private school participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to conduct a criminal background check on each new employee...

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WISigned into law 03/2004P-12Milwaukee Parental Choice Program
A.B. 847
Relate the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program; requires a private school to conduct a criminal background check on all persons employed as in...

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WIVetoed 11/2003P-12Parental Choice Program
A.B. 260
Extends the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to all private schools in Milwaukee County....

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WIVetoed 11/2003P-12Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Study
A.B. 126
Directs the Legislative Audit Bureau to administer a study of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program....

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WIVetoed 11/2003P-12Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Income Limit
A.B. 472
Relates to the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program income limit. (Governor vetoed in November 2003; Assembly sustained veto in May 2004)...

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OHSigned into law 06/2003P-12Appropriations Bill
H.B. 95
Funding Formula:

Eliminates the requirement that the General Assembly recalculate the base funding amount every six years.

Eliminates scho...

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COSigned into law 06/2003P-12Opportunity Contract Pilot Program Eligibility
H.B. 1369
Modifies the eligibility criteria for children in grades 1 through 3 for purposes of the "Colorado Opportunity Contract Pilot Program" (HB03...

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COSigned into law 04/2003P-12Opportunity Contract Pilot Program
H.B. 1160
Establishes the "Colorado Opportunity Contract Pilot Program" beginning in the '04-'05 school year, which requires school districts with eig...

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LASigned into law 06/2002P-12Income Tax Credits for Child Care and Educational Costs
H.B. 238
Revises the individual income tax credit for child care expenses and educational costs....

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COSigned into law 04/2002Postsec.Income Tax Credit for Gifts to Colorado Institute of Technology
H.B. 1059
Concerns modifications to the state income tax credit available to Colorado taxpayers who make monetary contributions to the Colorado Instit...

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CARejected by voters 11/2000P-12Education Voucher Program
V. 25
PROPOSITION 38 Amends State Constitution. Authorizes State-funded $ 4000-per-pupil annual payments to qualifying private and religious schoo...

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MIRejected by voters 11/2000P-12Voucher Initiative
V. 1
A proposed amendment to the Michigan constitution to provide for guaranteed school funding, teacher testing, and school choice. The amendme...

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CAOn 11/07/2000 ballot 06/2000P-12Voucher Program for Private Schools
V. 25
INITIATIVE 844; Authorizes state-funded $ 4000-per-pupil annual payments to qualifying private and religious schools as grants for new enrol...

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AZSigned into law 04/2000P-12Income Tax Credits for Preschool
H.B. 2226
Relates to individual income tax credits for tuition paid for preschool for children with disabilities; defines "handicapped" student as a ...

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