Ga. Senate OKs Bill That Would Expand Special Needs Voucher Program

The state Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would expand Georgia’s Special Needs Scholarship. The program uses state money to help special education students attend private schools.

Senate Bill 386 would allow more students to receive the vouchers by letting kids with 504 plans qualify. Currently, students need to have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and attend a public school for one year to qualify for the scholarship.

‘It’s Excruciating’

While presenting the bill to the Senate on Tuesday, Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, said she wants more kids to be able to benefit from the program. Currently, fewer than 5,000 students participate statewide. Unterman said the process to get an IEP can be long and arduous for families. She said it took three years to get an IEP in place for her late son.