HF1577 Summary

• Establishes the Minnesota Special Education Scholarship Act allowing parents to choose special education service providers for their children with individualized education programs.

• Eligible students must have a disability, an IEP, and have been enrolled in a Minnesota school district or charter school in the year preceding scholarship award.

• School district superintendents must schedule IEP team meetings within 30-60 days of scholarship requests to discuss current services and anticipated changes with parents before application approval.

• Commissioner of Education must establish scholarship reimbursement amounts based on average salary rates for essential personnel categories under section 125A.76 and maintain a public list of approved providers.

• Parent assumes responsibility for meeting student's special education needs during scholarship term, and resident school districts are not required to provide services to scholarship recipients.