The Indiana House of Representatives voted 91-1 in favor of House Bill 1341 on Thursday that would require a school corporation to give a proportion of its state special education grant money to non-public schools for its special education services. "These grants are state grants going to public schools for students with disabilities," said Representative David Frizzell (R-Indianapolis). "However, some of these schools cannot meet the needs of those students, so they must attend a nonpublic school. It only makes sense that the grant money specified for those students follows them to their school." This bill would only require public school corporations to give portions of its grant money for the students within their boundary who are attending non-public schools because of their disability. Along with state grants, Indiana public schools receive federal grants for special education services. These federal grants for special education services have allowed several Indiana school corporations to give portions of their state special education grants to non-public schools prior to this bill being introduced. "This issue is a question of fairness. The grants are out there, we just need to make sure the right students are receiving the right funds." Rep. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis), the chairman of the House Education Committee, also co-authored this bill with Rep. Frizzell. HB 1341 will now move to the Indiana Senate for further consideration. -30- |
