HB334 Summary

• Establishes the Students with Unique Needs (SUN) Education Scholarship Account Program beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, limited to 500 students initially with 500 additional students added annually.

• Eligible students include those with IEPs or 504 accommodations, military-connected children on active duty or killed in service, foster children who achieved permanency, and homeless students.

• State deposits 95 percent of the gross state Foundation Program cost-per-student into individual education scholarship accounts for qualified uses including private school tuition, tutoring, curricula, online learning programs, assessments, and contracted public school services.

• Participating schools and education service providers must comply with health and safety laws, administer standardized tests annually, hold valid occupancy permits, demonstrate financial viability through bonds or financial statements, and provide receipts for expenses.

• Department of Education administers the program, conducts audits, can bar providers for fraud or misrepresentation, and must publish test results and graduation rates aggregated by grade level, gender, income, race, and years of participation starting in the fourth year.