WPLN News

Backers of the new school voucher program promised that it would expand school choice for Tennessee families. But critics worry the program leaves students with disabilities behind. The controversial statewide voucher program – called Education Freedom Scholarships – lets families use taxpayer funds to offset the costs of attending private school. Nashville-based disability advocate Zoe Jamail warns that kids with disabilities will lose some protections when using these vouchers. “What we know is that a private school, unlike a public school, doesn’t have to admit a student with a disability,” she told WPLN News. “So right off the bat, we have a problem in terms of access.” Students with disabilities who accept a voucher forfeit their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — the federal mandate for a free, appropriate public education. This includes a right to an individualized education plan (IEP).