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SPONSOR: Sen Stutts (R) SB202 Rep. Yarbrough (R) HB295
DESCRIPTION: These companion bills allow parents to establish educational savings accounts for their children with a portion of state money. Funds can be used for non-public education of their choice.
STATUS: The bills have been introduced in the Senate and House and will be heard in an upcoming House Ways and Means Education Committee and Senate Education Policy committee meetings.
EF's POSITION: We support this bill. See: FAQs, PowerPoint slides, flyer, videos, news articles, and more here.
Quick Overview of bill as introduced:
- Universal Educational Savings Accounts (ESA)
- All children can apply after 3-year phase-in period.
- ESAs empower parents to educate their children according to their values and to tailor their children’s education to their exact needs.
- ESAs can be used for private school, online school, or homeschool.
- ESA amount is based on average amount of state tax dollars used per pupil-Approx $6,000.
- Examples of qualifying expenses are tuition, textbooks and fees, individual classes, tutoring services, therapies such as occupational, behavioral, physical, speech-language, audiology therapies, etc., extracurricular activities including, athletics, art, music, and literature, computer hardware and other technological devices, software and applications, school uniforms, college tuition, textbooks and fees if there is any remaining ESA funds after high school.
- Public schools keep any fed & local money left from a student who leaves their public school.
- ESA funds that are not fully used in one school year can be rolled over into next year.
- No more money is added to an ESA once the student has graduated from high school.
- Remaining funds can be used until age 21. (Can be used for college/trade school etc.)
- Protects private and homeschool autonomy. Nothing in the act changes the current laws that regulate non-public education entities (private, church, parochial, religious and home-based schools), including accreditation and assessments (testing).
- Program is administered by Dept of Revenue (DOR) and 13-person/parent advisory board.
- Students who use AL Accountability Act (AAA) scholarships are allowed to participate.
- This Act doesn’t change or amend the AL Highschool Athletic Association constitution or bi-laws.
- ESA programs are on strong legal ground.
Doesn’t Hurt Public Schools
Government and private schools DON’T HAVE to participate
Public schools still get any remaining federal and local funds
Could help relieve teacher shortages
Competition can expose areas for improvement of public schools
This Information is subject to change as the bill moves through the legislative process.
ACTION: Call these committee members and ask them to please pass the Price Act out of Committee.
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