Foster children getting access to state funds to attend private school

Foster children will soon be able to receive state funds to attend private school.

The change represents the first time that a state school voucher program, the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program, has been expanded beyond students who are disabled or have special needs. It could foreshadow future efforts to open the program up to more children.

The Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program, created in 2010, gives parents of students with disabilities funds to pay for private school tuition and other educational expenses. In the 2016-17 school year, parents of 520 children received a total of just over $2.5 million to pay the costs.

This year’s changes, which go into effect Sept. 1, expand eligibility to foster children, adopted foster children and children in custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs. The students are eligible if they have an “individualized services plan,” which all foster children receive within 30 days of being removed from home. State officials said a relatively small number of students will be affected.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/education/oklahoma-watch-foster-children-getting-access-to-state-funds-to/article_4615fda0-aaea-5d6b-9659-ecbaf71323e0.html