Staff Analysis of the Legislation
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SUMMARY: LC 33 5271S
Amends current law related to eligibility for special needs vouchers for students attending private schools.
REQUIREMENTS:
- authorized the State Board to require a local board to expedite development of an IEP and to waive the prior school year requirement (on a case by case basis) for specific medical needs of the student
- a parent must initiate such a request
- the expedited process may be required prior to the beginning of the school year
- State Board shall annually report the number of waivers granted under this provision through December 31, 2015
- Applications for the special needs voucher program shall be accepted by the Department of Education on September 15, December 15, and February 15 each year.
- the Department of Education shall make quarterly scholarship payments to parents on later than October 15, December 15, February 15, and May 15.
POINTS TO CONSIDER:
- "medical needs" is not defined
- no medical certification of such needs is required
- local school system personnel may not be available in the summer to expedite the IEP development
- the local system is given no opportunity to meet the needs of the student prior to enrollment in private schools
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2013
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