HB 215 Summary

• Establishes the Strong Students Grant Program providing $500 grants to kindergarten through grade 12 students for eligible education expenses, with priority given to households earning under $50,000 annually, followed by those earning under $75,000, then first-come, first-served basis.

• Establishes the Strong Students Scholarship Program providing 90% of average state per-pupil funding to scholarship accounts for students who attended public school for at least 100 days in the prior year and are no longer enrolled in public school, with same income-based priority schedule as grant program.

• Eligible education expenses include computer hardware and internet access, private school tuition, textbooks and instructional materials, assessment fees, therapies, educational services, and other board-approved expenses.

• Creates a seven-member parent advisory panel to recommend program improvements and additional eligible expenses, with members appointed by the state board education's executive director.

• Requires annual reporting to the governor and legislature on program funding, applicants, awards, audit results, and contracts; allows parents to intervene in legal challenges to program constitutionality.