SB 593 Summary

• Amends the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program to require participating private schools to comply with federal and state laws relating to education of children with disabilities, Oklahoma School Testing Program Act participation, and the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005.

• Establishes that participating private schools must employ or contract teachers with baccalaureate degrees, at least three (3) years of teaching experience, or special skills and expertise; meet accreditation standards; demonstrate fiscal soundness; and comply with state and local health and safety laws.

• Requires private schools to adhere to published disciplinary procedures before expelling scholarship students and remain academically accountable to parents for meeting educational needs of students with disabilities.

• Limits state regulatory authority over private schools to requirements expressly set forth in the statute and those reasonably necessary to enforce program provisions.

• Effective date July 1, 2015, with emergency clause declaring immediate effect upon passage and approval.