Private special‑needs schools and parents urge larger John Peterson scholarship increases

Private special‑needs schools, parents and students asked the Senate Education Committee to raise the John Peterson Special Needs Scholarship and autism scholarship amounts in the House budget.

Eldridge Carr, head of Marburn Academy, told lawmakers Marburn and peer schools provide intensive, often one‑to‑one services for students with dyslexia, ADHD and related learning disabilities and that the scholarship categories do not keep pace with rising operating costs. Carr said scholarship levels range across categories from roughly $9,500 (category 1) to about $32,000 (category 6), but rising costs — especially for staffing and behavioral supports — are increasing program expenses.

Parents and students described the difference scholarship support made for their families. Holly Denson said her son, Elijah, entered Marburn in fourth grade after prior supports failed to meet his needs and that the scholarship was "life changing." Elijah Denson told the committee that at Marburn he no longer sees his learning difference as simply a disability and credited the small classes and targeted instruction with dramatically improving his school experience and confidence.

Leaders at Bridgeway Academy, New Story Schools and Optimal Services (which manages scholarship placements for a set of nonpublic schools) said wait lists are growing and that many families exhaust other options before seeking a specialized placement. Bridgeway requested scholarship increases to $36,000 (FY26) and $37,000 (FY27) with annual cost‑of‑living adjustments; New Story Schools requested similar increases with an indexed update.

No vote was taken; witnesses asked the committee to support amendments that would raise scholarship amounts so private special‑needs schools can retain staff, reduce wait lists, and keep tuition affordable for families.