SB 397 Summary

• Establishes a special education scholarship account fund administered by the State Treasurer to provide education options for Indiana students with active individualized education programs (IEPs) within the past 18 months.

• Parents who sign an agreement with the Department of Education authorize transfer of 100% of the student's state tuition support plus any special education service amounts the school corporation would receive into an individual scholarship account.

• Scholarship account funds may be used for tuition and fees at nonpublic schools eligible for the choice scholarship program, required textbooks, and services from certified education service providers including tutors and organizations.

• Parents signing a special education scholarship agreement must provide education in reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science, cannot enroll the student in other schools, and forfeit the school corporation's obligation to provide special education services and cannot accept a choice scholarship.

• Qualified schools accepting scholarship funds are not state agents and cannot be regulated by the state regarding curriculum, religious instruction, teacher hiring, or other educational activities; scholarship distributions do not count as income or resources for other federal or state assistance programs.