Mississippi House passes legislation to create ESA program for special needs students
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Washington, D.C. (March 11, 2015) – The American Federation for Children, the nation’s voice for educational choice, applauds the Mississippi State House for passing the Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act – a bill to create an education savings account (ESA) program serving special needs students in the state
“With this vote, Mississippi legislators showed their commitment to educating every student in their state, especially those who have unique educational needs,” said Betsy, DeVos, Chairman of the American Federation for Children. “We would like to thank Gov. Phil Bryant, Speaker Phillip Gunn and Rep. Carolyn Crawford for their tireless work and support for this innovative program that will allow parents to tailor their child’s education specifically to their needs.”
The Equal Opportunity for Students With Special Needs Act creates an education savings account program that gives children with special needs the opportunity to use their traditional education funds to customize their education. These expenses can be used for private school tuition, tutoring or specialized therapy.
SB 2695 passed the House today with a 65-51 vote. The Senate previously passed the bill 27-21. Because the House adopted two amendments, the bill will now go to a conference committee or back to the Senate for final passage.
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American Federation for Children is the nation’s leading school choice advocacy organization and works in states across the country to help secure additional, high-quality educational options for families.