CO HB1151

Creates the Colorado Special Education Opportunity Scholarship Program to provide scholarships to parents of eligible students (ages 5-21) with disabilities to purchase educational services from approved providers.

Eligible students must have autism spectrum disorder, serious emotional disability, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, or traumatic brain injury, and receive an individualized education program or 504 plan accommodations.

Scholarship amounts equal statewide per pupil revenues plus $1,250 in special education funding, plus additional funding for students with multiple disabilities; participating students cannot be enrolled in public schools.

State board contracts with up to 3 scholarship facilitators to administer the program by maintaining accounts, processing payments, monitoring parental compliance, and maintaining approved provider lists with criminal background check requirements.

Parents must maintain logs and receipts for purchases, cannot accept rebates or improper refunds from providers, and are subject to account suspension or closure if they violate program agreements.