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House refines Carson Smith scholarship; requires written notification and clearer fiscal audits
Summary
The House amended the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship to require written notification to parents of students with IEPs, remove confusing 'specialized private school' language, and replace vague audit rules with CPA-directed fiscal-soundness checks; the measure passed 66-5.
Lawmakers amended and passed changes to the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship program on Feb. 23, 2006, aiming to clarify eligibility, improve parental notice and strengthen financial oversight for participating private schools.
Representative Newbold, sponsor of the amendments, said the bill removes a hard-to-define phrase about "private schools that specialize in serving students with disabilities" and requires written notification to parents of students with individualized education programs (IEPs) so families know scholarship deadlines and options. The measure also replaces prior audit language with a more specific requirement that an independent CPA provide fiscal-soundness evidence as part of an eligible school's application.
Members offered and adopted friendly amendments to clarify that eligible private schools should have prior experience serving students with disabilities and to underline that parents may return their child to public school at any time. The State Office of Education will rely on CPA opinions to assess fiscal applications rather than perform deep financial examinations itself, the sponsor said.
Representative Newbold said roughly 140 students have used the Carson Smith scholarship across 13 private schools and that families report meaningful progress. The House approved the bill, as amended, by a vote of 66-5; the measure will be sent to the Senate for further consideration.
