South Ohio News

State Senator Sandra O'Brien has introduced a new bill aimed at providing Ohio students attending non-government schools with more financial support. The proposed legislation would enable students to receive both a special needs scholarship and an EdChoice scholarship simultaneously. Currently, students who qualify for either an autism or Jon Peterson Special Needs (JPSN) scholarship can only receive that specific scholarship and are ineligible for the EdChoice scholarship.

The existing special needs scholarships cover most of the costs associated with services provided to the student but often fall short of covering both service and tuition payments for those attending non-government schools. This financial gap leaves many students unable to afford tuition, placing them at a disadvantage despite their need for special education funding.

Senator O'Brien highlighted the issue by stating, “This is an issue of fairness,” and emphasized that “there is a simple fix.”

If passed, O’Brien’s bill would allow eligible students to receive an EdChoice scholarship in addition to their special needs scholarship, potentially easing the financial burden on families seeking non-government education options for their children.

The bill is scheduled for its first hearing on Wednesday, January 29th in the Senate Education Committee.