Utah PTA is grateful to Governor Herbert for this action.
There is some concern that a Veto override is being considered. We ask that Utah PTA members contact your legislators and ask them to oppose HB 332 Special Needs Scholarship Amendments should it be brought to a special session.
On March 19, 2020 Utah PTA sent a formal request to the Governor for a Veto on HB 332 Special Needs Scholarship Amendments. On April 1, 2020 Governor Herbert chose to veto HB 332 Special Needs Scholarship Amendments along with other bills that established new tax credit programs. We appreciate Governor Herbert studying the issues and recognizing that in this time of economic insecurity the state should not be creating new tax credit programs.
Utah PTA has a number of concerns with HB 332 Special Needs Scholarship Amendments.
Our concerns:
1. This Bill sends public education dollars to private schools.
2. Families are required to sign away their rights to Special Education services when attending a private school.
3. This Bill duplicates a program (Carson Smith Scholarship) that is already in place, that has funded all families who applied and often has money left over.
4. The Carson Smith program was recently audited and there were several concerns with the implementation of the program. Those concerns should be dealt with before beginning a similar program.
5. Programs like this in other states have grown over time and eventually begin subsidizing private-school tuition for families who already would have gone to private school.
6. Programs like this in other states have become a way for donors to profit at the expense of public education.
7. This Bill adds numerous responsibilities to the State Board of Education to manage the Scholarship Granting Organizations.
8. There are many questions regarding how this Bill in its current state can practically be implemented in terms of good accounting practices.
This bill sends PUBLIC SCHOOL MONEY TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS!
This bill provides scholarships to students within certain special education categories to attend private schools. It is funded through a nonrefundable corporate or individual tax credit for program donations made to a Scholarship Granting Organization.
Utah PTA supports public money funding public schools, and opposes vouchers, tax credits and deductions and other similar funding sources for public and private preschool, elementary and secondary school tuition and other education-related expenses for students.
Utah already has a scholarship program for children who qualify for special education services with an IEP. The Carson Smith Scholarship Program is funded by the general fund. It has no waiting list and often has money left over at the end of the year. Please relay the message to your legislators that it is not the time for a duplicate program.