Florida’s new educational choice program for special needs students would see significant funding increases under spending plans unveiled this week in both chambers of the state Legislature.
A proposed budget unveiled Monday by Erik Fresen, R-Miami, the House’s education budget chairman, contains an additional $13.5 million for Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts, which would bring their total funding to $31.9 million.
A plan released Tuesday by Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, the Senate’s education budget chairman, would boost funding to an even $50 million, or more than two and a half times the $18.4 million set aside for the program in its first year.
The accounts are administered by two non-profit scholarship organizations, one of which, Step Up For Students, co-hosts this blog and employs the author of this post.
The program, created by the Legislature last year, helps parents of special needs children pay for private-school tuition, tutoring, therapies and other education-related expenses based on their individual needs.
The funding increases are intended to cover the costs of growing participation in the program, as well as expanded eligibility. The Senate has proposed making the accounts available to 3- and 4-year-olds, while a House bill set to be discussed Thursday would extend them to children with muscular dystrophy.
Committees in both the House and Senate are expected to vote on their competing budgets next week, and lawmakers are expected to reconcile them before the end of the 60-day legislative session.
Plans in both chambers would also increase overall funding for public schools.
