Florida Capitol and Old Capitol. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix)
Parents of children with special education accommodations deserve more transparency when exercising school choice, Democratic lawmakers argue.
Under existing law, private schools receiving school choice funding from the state are not required to provide special education services, and Sen. Shevrin Jones, representing part of Miami-Dade County, and Rep. Robin Bartleman, representing part of Broward County, say not all parents exercising school choice may be aware of that.
The two lawmakers introduced in each chamber identical bills, SB 508 and HB 423, Wednesday to require private schools accepting school choice scholarships from the state to inform parents, in writing, the specialized services and therapies the school offers.
“Parents work tirelessly to secure the accommodations their children need, and they deserve full transparency when making educational decisions,” Bartleman, a former teacher, said in a news release. “This bill ensures that families have clear, upfront information about the services their child will receive, empowering them to make the best possible choice for their child’s future.”
The bill would require schools to inform parents if their student’s Individualized Education Plan, Education Plan, English Language Learner Plan, or 504 Plan will be honored at the school.
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“When you hear ‘private school,’ you assume it must be great because people are paying for it, and you’d think they’d have the best resources,” said Shauntel Smith, a Pinellas County parent of a child with special needs, in a news release.
“But that’s not always the case, especially when it comes to kids with complex needs,” Smith said. “If a parent doesn’t know what a school can’t offer, they might enroll their child thinking it’ll be a good fit, only to find out later that their child isn’t getting the support they need. That’s heartbreaking, and it causes unnecessary stress and instability for the child and the family.”
The lawmakers called the measure “informed decision-making.”
A Florida statute requires schools to “discuss” academic programs, specialized services, and other matters with a parent “to determine which programs and services may meet the student’s individual needs.”
“In the classroom, I’ve seen what a distinct difference it makes for students to have access to support services and resources tailored to their unique needs,” Jones said in a news release.
“Parents are their children’s most important advocate and deserve transparency when it comes to decisions regarding their children’s education. This legislation is an important step forward as we work to strengthen transparency and ensure every student has access to the support services they need.”
Disability Rights Florida called the bill “common-sense transparency and accountability measures.”
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