Atlanta Schools Offer Vouchers To Special Needs Students
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Atlanta Schools Introduce Vouchers for Students with Special Needs
Overview
Atlanta Schools celebrated a significant development last week when Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship bill into law. Initially known as Senate Bill 10, this groundbreaking voucher plan has attracted considerable attention from both parents and educators in the region.
Program Details
The new law allocates state funds to provide vouchers that offer parents of children with special needs more educational options. Linda Bryant Butler, an Atlanta Schools teacher and parent of a child with autism, shared her excitement with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Parents like me are thrilled to finally have choices. If one school doesn’t suit Xavier during his academic career, we can seek better alternatives,” she expressed.
Eligibility and Impact
Parents can use these vouchers to enroll their children in alternative public or private schools. To qualify, a child must have a documented developmental disability, such as Autism or Tourette Syndrome, and have attended public school for at least one year. The program is expected to provide $4,000 worth of vouchers initially, with the amount increasing to about $15,000 annually.
Mixed Reactions
The initiative has received a mixed response from Atlanta Schools educators. Supporters believe this is the only viable solution to meet the diverse needs of exceptional learners, as it’s unrealistic for every school to have specialists for each disability. They also note the existing challenges teachers face in handling students without developmental delays.
Critics argue that this could affect the standards of private schools and drain funds from public education. With public schools receiving government support per student, losing an estimated $9,000 per student due to vouchers could undermine their capabilities.
Governor’s Perspective
Governor Perdue emphasized that the law empowers parents to make informed decisions about their child’s education, recognizing that they understand their children’s needs best.
Future Prospects
Voucher programs have been a topic of national debate, including in Atlanta Schools. If this initiative proves successful, it may serve as a model for other regions.
Application Process
Not all parents in Atlanta Schools will choose this program. If their child is thriving in the current setting, no changes are necessary. However, parents interested in applying can visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website at [Georgia DOE](http://www.doe.k12.ga.us) and click on the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship link.
This initiative marks a new chapter for special needs education in Atlanta, potentially setting a precedent for schools across the country.
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