(From PR Newswire, March 14th 2012)
Bipartisan plan, which would empower thousands of special needs students, now advances to Senate for consideration
MADISON, Wis., March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Wisconsin State Assembly late last night passed legislation that would create an expansive voucher program for children with special needs, bringing the first statewide, publicly funded private school choice program to Wisconsin’s special needs families.
The American Federation for Children–the nation’s voice for school choice–praised the legislation, which passed with bipartisan support, and called on State Senators to follow the lead of their Assembly colleagues and pass Senate Bill 486, the companion legislation in the upper chamber.
AFC also commended Representatives Michelle Litjens (R), Jason Fields (D), and Evan Wynn (R), the three sponsors of the legislation who worked to make the program highly accountable for parents and participating schools. The Senate is
expected to take up the measure in the coming weeks.
“This plan is about providing families who have children with special needs with educational choice, because they know their children better than anyone else,” said Brian Pleva, a Government Affairs Associate for the American Federation for Children.