WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Education Reform Subcommittee today heard testimony on several special education-related issues, including innovative programs that enhance parental choice in special education. This is the third in a series of hearings to lay the groundwork for reform and reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which House Republicans hope to pass through Congress this year.

     Several states have taken the lead in finding innovative approaches to improving special education and giving more options to parents with special needs children. Florida, for example, last year launched a program that provides education choice for parents of disabled students. The McKay Scholarships are available to parents who want to ensure that their special needs children receive a quality education. According to Education Week, Florida education officials received more than 14,000 inquiries from interested parents in the first few months of the McKay program’s existence. (Lisa Fine, August 8, 2001)

     Education Reform Subcommittee Chairman Michael Castle (R-DE), a House leader in special education reform, said that Congress can learn “how Florida has moved to increase parental choice in the education of disabled students so the parents can ensure their disabled sons and daughters are receiving quality education.”

     Diane McCain, director of the Choice Office in the Florida Department of Education, discussed the benefits of school choice in ensuring accountability in special education: “We believe that school choice is a method for making our educators more accountable to parents in Florida. With the McKay Program, our legislature has empowered parents to choose their children’s schools.”

     “Parents are given flexibility perhaps for the first time. Before the McKay Program, the decision regarding services was made by the school district,” McCain continued. “Children at risk, children in the juvenile justice system, and children with special needs have had the decision made by local school districts. Over $40 million dollars has been paid to provide services by contract to more than 8,000 students. With the McKay Program, parents also have an option.”

     The McKay Scholarships may be used at any participating eligible private school chosen by the parents or a public school within or adjacent to the student’s school district. The scholarships are issued by the state and can be used for grades K-12. The scholarship totals the amount being spent on the student in the assigned public school, or the tuition at the private school, whichever is less. If the cost for private school is greater than the scholarship amount, then the remaining balance may be provided by the family, donors, or others to help meet the needs of the child. Because there is no additional cost to the state-the program simply lets parents, rather than school district administrators, decide which school should receive the educational funds already being spent on their child.

     McCain noted that “parents deserve the best treatment we can provide and we have taken steps to assure that they are given as much information as possible. We also encourage parents to work very closely with their child’s teachers, the school administrators, and the special education specialists within their schools district.”

     The parental choice provided through the McKay Scholarships builds on what Congress and President Bush has accomplished to ensure that no child is left behind. Last year, at President Bush’s urging, Congress took significant bipartisan action to expand choices for low-income parents. While offering unprecedented support for public schools and public school teachers, Congress expanded Education Savings Accounts (Coverdell accounts) to help parents pay for K-12 educational expenses in both private and public schools. Congress also gave parents with children in chronically-failing public schools the right to choose a private tutor and a better-achieving public or charter school. These reforms were part of the President’s No Child Left Behind plan and are now law.

      Furthermore, U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige, in Wisconsin today with President Bush, announced that he is sending a letter of guidance to the nation's Superintendents and State School Chiefs providing preliminary advice on public school choice and other issues as they prepare to implement the No Child Left Behind Act for the upcoming 2002-03 school year. He also will be hosting a public school choice/supplemental services conference at the Department of Education in early June for education leaders, service providers and community groups - further showing that school choice provisions, for both special-needs and mainstream students - are a key element of the President’s education reform agenda, which aims to give parents a greater say in their children's education.