Special Needs Students Benefit from Expanded School Choice Options for Better Education

Special needs students often struggle to receive adequate support in public schools. Many schools lack the resources or trained staff to meet their individualized education programs (IEPs). This leads to prolonged delays in critical services like speech therapy and behavioral support.

For example, Shannon Mitchell’s daughter Brianna, diagnosed with autism, spent years in a Philadelphia district school without proper assistance. Brianna’s teacher sent her to play alone while aides were inattentive. After a long fight, Shannon secured a transfer to a private school better equipped to serve Brianna’s needs. This transfer was paid by the district but only after considerable resistance.

High Costs and Limited Transfers

Pennsylvania spends over $370 million annually to outsource special education for nearly 8,500 students to private schools. The average cost per student is about $44,000, with Philadelphia alone spending $35 million for 681 students at $51,000 each. Despite this, only 3% of special education students transfer from public to private schools.

Funding and bureaucratic hurdles make transfers rare. Parents often wait months or years for legal recourse to obtain necessary services. Litigation is costly and favors affluent families, which exacerbates inequalities among lower-income households.

The Need for Expanded School Choice

Current tax credit scholarship programs such as the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) provide over 80,000 scholarships yearly. However, they reject an equal number due to budget limitations. The recent $50 million increase to the Economically Disadvantaged Schools program adds around 10,000 scholarships but still leaves a significant gap.

School choice shouldn’t be a privilege exclusive to wealthier families. It must be an accessible option for all special needs students across Pennsylvania. Extending school choice helps families find educational environments where their children can thrive and receive necessary support.

Shannon Mitchell remarks, “These kids deserve a chance, and they deserve to have a classroom where they can walk in and be proud of what they’re doing.” Ensuring school choice is a crucial step toward fulfilling that goal.