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Sponsor seeks surveys for Education Freedom Accounts; Department of Education says it lacks parent contact data
Summary
Representative Glenn Cordelli told the committee House Bill 676 would add parent impact surveys to the Education Freedom Account program; the Department of Education said it does not maintain parent contact information and recommended the scholarship organization or EFA provider administer the surveys instead.
Representative Glenn Cordelli introduced House Bill 676, which would add two parent surveys to Education Freedom Account (EFA) administration: one asking parents why they chose a non‑district education option and another asking whether the EFA helped the child attend programs previously unavailable.
Caitlin Davis of the Department of Education told the committee the department does not collect or maintain parent contact information for EFA or public‑school students and is therefore not positioned to administer a parent survey. She recommended that the legislation be amended to require the scholarship organization or EFA provider to administer any parent surveys, or else provide funding for the department to acquire survey tools and contact information.
Representative Cordelli said he had discussed the point with the department and was open to drafting an amendment to address the department’s technical concerns.
Why it matters Parent impact surveys can produce useful information about why families select education alternatives and whether programs achieve intended outcomes. The department’s operational note — that it lacks parent contact data and survey tools — points to a straightforward implementation question: who will deliver and store the survey and how will participation be measured?
Next steps The sponsor and the Department signaled they will work on an amendment to change the administering party or provide for tools and a data process that respects existing data‑privacy rules.
