Missouri Needs a Scholarship Program for Children with Disabilities

The Center for Disease Control estimates every 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with some form of autism. This estimate cannot account for those who are never tested, whatever the reason may be. Therefore, autism is more prevalent than we think. Most of these children can succeed with proper treatments and proper education. Unfortunately, not every school is equipped to educate these children adequately. The government passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); that includes revisions and amendments. This act clearly says children with autism spectrum disorder should be given a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) . Some parents cannot afford to send their children to schools that are more capable of educating them, whether it is another public school, private school, or a special education school. Several other states have passed legislation that tries to solve this problem. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Utah all have passed some sort of disability or special needs scholarship programs. I would like to focus on Florida’s program. The John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program provides students with disabilities to attend a public school other than the one assigned, or provide a scholarship to a private school. Any student that has been given an Individual Education Plan (IEP) can apply for these scholarships.

The program does not cost the state anything. The children are awarded the amount the state would have been paying for them at their assigned school, including the costs to accommodate the disability or the cost to attend the private school, whichever is less.

I bring up Florida because it is something Missouri could benefit from. It would not cost the state anything, and these children can get the education they deserve. Is it fair to not give these children a chance to succeed in life? I think not.