SB 1038 Summary

• Establishes "Freedom in Education Savings Accounts" allowing parents to withdraw students from public schools and receive 80% of statewide average per-pupil general maintenance and operations funding deposited into individual education savings accounts.

• Parents must agree to educate students in reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science, and can use account funds for qualified schools, tutoring, educational therapies, vocational training, online programs, postsecondary tuition, and educational technology.

• Department of Education administers the program with annual audits and compliance oversight; parents may appeal administrative decisions and can be removed for non-compliance or misuse of funds; state may pursue fraud cases through the attorney general.

• Prohibits government agencies from controlling or supervising nonpublic schools or homeschooling, and prevents qualified schools from being required to alter their creed, practices, admissions policies, or curriculum to accept account-funded students.

• Creates a six-member Parent Oversight Committee appointed by legislative leaders and the governor to review program implementation, effectiveness, and parent concerns; committee members must be active account-holding parents with certain conflict-of-interest restrictions.