School vouchers, also referred to as an Educational Savings Account (ESA), allow funds allocated for public education to be used for private school tuition and other education expenses. While vouchers may sound like a great option for families, there are several issues the Autism Society of Texas and many other disability rights organizations have about their effects on students with disabilities. Top concerns with school vouchers are:
- Private schools are not required to accept students with disabilities, or if they do, may expel them and keep the tuition
- Private schools are not required to provide disability services or accommodations as outlined under IDEA or 504
- Vouchers may only cover a small fraction of the tuition
- Private schools are not required to provide transportation for students.
Should an ESA bill be passed, we would like to see provisions added that would give protections for students with disabilities, as well as make clear the information regarding the rights of families and students. Additional provisions include:
- Accommodations on norm-based assessments (any standardized test should make accommodations available to all who are eligible)
- The addition of a legal notice to parents regarding loss of educational rights and other concerns that may impact students with disabilities
- Larger sums available for students with disabilities to accommodate for higher costs in support services and tuition
- Provisions that would allow parents of students with disabilities to choose funds to be used for other education-related services, including but not limited to speech, occupational therapy, applied behavior analysis therapy, physical therapy, tutoring, adaptive or assistive technology, or other individualized academic needs related to the student’s disability.