Meeting the needs of our state’s special education students

Meeting the needs of our state’s special education students

Close to 12 percent of all Arkansas students are enrolled in special education classes.

Students eligible for special education include those with autism, hearing or visual impairments, emotional disturbances, or any learning disability.

This year, some students enrolled with special needs can receive a state scholarship to private schools that meet certain criteria.

In the last Regular Session we passed Act 1178 which creates the Succeed Scholarship Program.

The amount of the scholarship is either the cost of tuition and fees for the private school or the current amount of foundation funding provided by the state, whichever amount is less. For the 2016-2017 school year, the foundation funding amount is $6,646 per student.

In the 2016 Fiscal Session, we approved an appropriation of $800,000 for the program and limited the number of students to the first 100 who apply and meet the criteria.

So far only, 2 students who have applied have met all the criteria by the Department of Education. The Department of Education says students can apply anytime throughout the school year.

In order to participate in the Succeed Scholarship Program, a private school must, as part of its application Specify the grade levels and services that the private school has available for students with disabilities who will participate in the program.

Schools must also comply with state and national antidiscrimination laws and employ only teachers who hold a baccalaureate degree or higher.

Eight private schools from across the state have applied and been accepted into the program.

Students wishing to apply must be currently enrolled in public school and have attended public school for at least one academic year.

The student must have an individualized education program in accordance with the Disabilities Education Act. Parents must notify the student’s current school district at least 60 days before the date of the first scholarship payment.

You can find more a list of the schools participating and more on the application process online at www.arksped.k12.ar.us.

From State Representative Deborah Ferguson