Florida Phoenix

Parents of children with special education accommodations deserve more transparency when exercising school choice, Democratic lawmakers argue. Under existing law, private schools receiving school choice funding from the state are not required to provide special education services, and Sen. Shevrin Jones, representing part of Miami-Dade County, and Rep. Robin Bartleman, representing part of Broward County, say not all parents exercising school choice may be aware of that. The two lawmakers introduced in each chamber identical bills, SB 508 and HB 423, Wednesday to require private schools accepting school choice scholarships from the state to inform parents, in writing, the specialized services and therapies the school offers. “Parents work tirelessly to secure the accommodations their children need, and they deserve full transparency when making educational decisions,” Bartleman, a former teacher, said in a news release.