JACKSON — A proposal to create state-funded vouchers for a small fraction of special education students is moving forward in the Mississippi Legislature.
The House voted 65-51 Wednesday to pass a version of Senate Bill 2695.
Because the House made some changes, the bill is likely to be sent into a final round of House-Senate negotiations later this month.
The bill would create a five-year program to give vouchers worth $6,500 apiece to 500 special-needs students per year. Participation would be limited to 2,500 students at the end of the five years. Students’ families could use the public money for private school tuition or for tutoring or other educational services.
Supporters, including Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, are pushing to voucher program a way to help some of the 63,000 special-needs students in Mississippi.
“I think the worst thing we can do is nothing,” said House Education Committee Chairman John Moore, R-Brandon.
Opponents say the voucher proposal would do too little for too few students.
The House on Wednesday defeated several amendments offered by Democrats. One, by Rep. David Baria of Bay St. Louis, would have created a small group of attorneys to represent families of special-needs students when they meet with local school officials to discuss the “individualized educational program” that is required for each special education student. Baria said parents who can’t afford to hire an attorney might feel overwhelmed by the attorneys who represent school districts.
Public schools are required, by law, to provide a free, appropriate education for special-needs students, but they often fall short, he said.
“What families really need is for school districts just to follow the existing law,” Baria said.
Patricia Levesque, executive director of a Florida-based group called Excellence in Education National, praised the House for advancing the bill.
“This vote sends a clear statement that Mississippi is committed to improving education for all children, including the most vulnerable,” Levesque said in a news release.
Online:
■ Senate Bill 2695: bit.ly/1Ak3trP .
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