American Federation for Children

Victory for Oklahoma Kids as Governor Henry Signs School Voucher Bill

Posted on Wednesday June 09, 2010 | Oklahoma

June 9, 2010 (Washington, D.C.) — Starting next year, parents of Oklahoma children with special needs can apply for a state-funded school voucher to choose a private school for their children, thanks to a new law signed yesterday by the state’s Democratic Governor, Brad Henry.

The American Federation for Children, a public policy organization advocating for state-level school choice legislation, praised the passage of the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Act as a significant victory for Oklahoma’s families and a sign of the growing demand for better educational options from parents across the country.

“This new program will provide much-needed opportunities to thousands of families struggling every day to ensure that their children are provided with the highest-quality education,” said Betsy DeVos, chairman of the Federation. “We salute Governor Henry for his leadership in enacting this transformational new program, and we congratulate the bipartisan team of Oklahoma legislators who worked together and put politics aside for the sake of helping children with special needs.”

The legislation was authored by State Representative Jason Nelson (R-Oklahoma City) and State Senator Patrick Anderson (R-Enid). Oklahoma State Representative Jabar Shumate (D-Tulsa) also played a leading role in the passage of the bipartisan legislation.

The new program is named after Governor Henry’s late daughter, who died as an infant from Werdnig-Hoffman Disease. There is no annual cap on the number of scholarships that the state can issue through the program.

With the enactment of the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Act, Oklahoma joins five other states already offering highly popular private school choice programs that are specifically designed for children with special needs (Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Utah). Approximately 24,555 students have benefited from these programs in the 2009-10 school year. These innovative programs boast overwhelmingly high rates of parental satisfaction and public support.

Across the country, there are now 19 private school choice programs operating in 12 states and the District of Columbia, serving nearly 200,000 children.