The Rise Of Voucher andWhat You Can Do About It

September 26, 20122 p.m. ET

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Sasha Pudelski, Government Affairs Manger: spudelski@aasa.org

Overview of Today’s WebinarOverview of Today’s Webinar2:00-2:15

Sasha Pudelski, AASA2:15-2:25

Joe Bard, Pennsylvanians Opposed to Vouchers

2:25-2:35 Ryan Owens, Cooperative Council for

Oklahoma School Administrators 2:35-2:45

Liz Harris, Husch Blackwell LLP2:45-3:00

Audience Q &A

The Reach of School VouchersThe Reach of School Vouchers

American Federation of Children

General School Voucher PlansGeneral School Voucher Plans

• Means-tested eligibility voucher program Ex: Milwaukee

• Universal eligibility, failing-school voucher programEx: Ohio

• Means-tested, failing school voucher programEx: Louisiana

Special-Ed Voucher PlansSpecial-Ed Voucher Plans• Florida: Any student with an IEP/504– IEP & 504, attended public school voucher

• Ohio: Any student with autism– Autism diagnosis + registered in the public school special

education system = 20k voucher• Mississippi: Young student with dyslexia– Student in grades 1-6, diagnosis of dyslexia voucher

None of these programs have income limitations

States with Special-EdVouchers, Tax Credits or Savings Accounts Special-Ed & Foster Care Special-Ed & Foster Care

Tax Credits Tax Credits• NC Tax Credit– IEP $6k tax credit

• AZ Tax Credit– IEP or Foster Care Placement

Prior to in HS Graduation Tax Credit

Scholarship

1999: Florida

2003: Ohio (Autism)

2005: Utah

2007: Georgia

2009: Arizona (Tax Credit)

2010: Louisiana, Oklahoma

2011: Arizona (Savings Account) Ohio, North Carolina

2012: Mississippi

Tax Credit Voucher ProgramsTax Credit Voucher ProgramsThree types: Individual, Corporate, Ind & Corp

In the 2010-2011 school year, $289,427,523 was expended or donated for these scholarship tax credits nationally

Individual Corporate Individual & Corporate

Iowa, Louisiana Florida, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island

Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Virginia

Education Savings Accounts Education Savings Accounts • In 2011, Arizona implemented the first ESA, creating accounts that

deposit 90 percent of what a special-needs student’s school would have spent to educate him or her into an education savings account. The child’s parents can then use the money for private school expenses, special education services, online learning, and other education-related expenses.

• In 2012, the state expanded the program to also include students in schools that receive “D” or “F” grades from the state, children of active-duty military members, and foster children who are being adopted, effectively doubling the number of students eligible for the vouchers.

• Parents get 90% of the federal funding that a public school would have received to educate their child. Most students would be in line for approximately $3,500 to $5,000 per year, while those with disabilities would receive $5,000 to $30,000.

• Allows parents to deposit leftover funding not used over the course of a year into an education savings account to help pay for college.

Federal Voucher ProgramsFederal Voucher Programs

• 1 Passed, 1 Failed• Passed: D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program – Means-tested eligibility voucher, created in 2006,

re-authorized in 2011

• Failed: Military Voucher Program for Special Needs Students– Students with disabilities whose parents serve in

the military or are veterans receive voucher

• Vouchers do not improve student achievement• Vouchers increase education costs• Vouchers are unpopular• Vouchers do not help the neediest

kids

Anti-Voucher Talking PointsAnti-Voucher Talking Points