Mississippi Senators Approve Special Education Vouchers

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi senators have voted to give $7,000 vouchers to a small percentage of special education students so they could go to private school or receive other education services outside the public schools.

Senate Bill 2695 passed Wednesday, with 27 senators voting for it and 21 against it. The proposal will move to the House for more work.

One of the bill’s sponsors, Republican Sen. Nancy Collins of Tupelo, says Mississippi has about 63,000 students in special education.

Collins says 500 students could receive the aid the first year of the program. Another 500 a year would be added until the total reached 2,500 students receiving vouchers.

Opponents of the plan say Mississippi should try a broader approach to improve special education services.