Mississippi lawmakers are in the first stages of rewriting the state's special needs voucher program. As MPB's Desare Frazier reports they want more oversight.
Educational Scholarship Accounts often referred to as special needs vouchers began in 2015. They provide about $6,500 to help students with private schools tuition or services. A state oversight agency found there was little accountability. For example, some students attending private schools didn't receive specialized services. Senate Bill 2594 does away with that practice. Republican Senator Dennis DeBar of Leakesville chairs the Education Committee.
"They cannot just take the money, the ESA Scholarship money, ask the public schools to come in there and provide the services for that child. They need to provide those services and they need to certify that with the department of education," said DeBar.
DeBar says there were out-of-state online programs also being paid for with vouchers--that's out. He says schools must be accredited or certified through the state department of education. Pete Smith is with the department. He says the bill allows them to track the institutions and students progress.
"Students will be required to take a pre-test once they enter into a private school or enter into some sort of other service and they have to take a post test and then all of that data is submitted to the department of education and submitted to the public," said Smith.
Democratic Senator Sollie Norwood of Jackson is on the education committee. He would like the money to go to public schools and hold them accountable. But he says this bill is better.
"You're not going to be able to satisfy everybody but I think this is a bit of a compromise if we have to have it," said Norwood.
The program was due to end this year. The committee passed it extending the program four years. Now the measure goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further review.