Two Oklahoma lawmakers want to change a program that helps children with disabilities to attend private school to allow more children to participate in the program.
Currently, Oklahoma provides pay assistance for private education for families who have children with disabilities. These lawmakers would like to extend the program to children without disabilities, giving more parents and students the choice to decide where the student will go to school and potentially gain a better education because of their school choice.
Oklahoma Christian University has seen an influx of private school students who attend the university in the last 15 years, according to Admissions Recruiter Jancy Scott.
“Oklahoma Christian Academy is a big school for me,” Scott said. “I have about 15 students who come to Oklahoma Christian, and though that number may seem to be small, the graduating class from OCA is about 28.”
More students are deciding to opt out of public education and pay more for private schooling, according to Scott. Scott’s son attended private school until first grade and then moved to a public elementary school.
“My son enjoyed being at a private school, but sending him to public was not a big change,” Scott said. “He is the same as he would have been in private, it honestly depends on the kid and his or her attitude towards the situation.”
While some individuals are indifferent on school choice, others find more value in how they are taught. First-year college student Megan McKinnely began homeschooling after first grade when her parents were concerned about influences at public school.
“Half way through first grade, my parents thought hard about the concept of whether they wanted to send me to a secular school, where I was getting secular values all the time,” McKinnely said. “A little bit of it was due to the fact that I hated school and got really bored, so I was not enjoying what I was learning throughout the day.”
A homeschool setting allowed McKinnely to customize the curriculum she wanted to best fit her needs.
“I feel as if I did receive a better education by attending homeschool, I picked what I wanted to learn about and I could complete the subjects at my own pace,” McKinnely said. “If I wanted to learn faster than a public school would allow, I could.”
Oklahoma City allows students to transfer to a higher performing school if their current school has received a low grade in performance.
“There are cons to allowing students to transfer, classroom sizes do not grow but student populations do,” Jennifer Day, Oklahoma City school teacher, said. “Teachers can be hired, but the amount of materials for a specific subject can be limited.”
Day said low-income students should have the opportunity to excel in their studies.
“Students need a school environment where they can experience new opportunities that are not offered in smaller districts,” Day said. “Every school has its own energy and students deserve to have the right where they can grow without limitations.”
A total of 384 children with disabilities use this scholarship program, named after the late daughter of former Gov. Brad Henry. Thousands likely would participate in the programs now being proposed, since a child wouldn’t have to have a disability in order to qualify.
0
0
Be First to Comment