The Arkansas House on Thursday passed a bill that would allow certain disabled students in public schools to apply for private-school scholarships.
House Bill 1552, sponsored by Rep. Douglas House, R-North Little Rock, passed with 90 voting for and none voting against.
Legislators only spoke for the bill, which would create the Succeed Scholarship Program for disabled students starting in the 2016-17 school year.
"There are several different ways to do something like this, and Rep. House's bill incorporates all the best thinking," Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, said. "This is money we're already spending because they are already in public school and…we're not losing from our schools the best of the best kind of kids."
The program would let disabled students who have attended public school for at least one year with an individualized education program apply.
House said the bill was amended to make sure the program would be separately budgeted and not paid for with adequacy funds.
The program would be limited to about 100 students initially and operate as a pilot program.
The bill now heads to the Senate for approval.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
