Okla. Districts Balk at Special Education Vouchers

Four Systems in Tulsa Area Cite Cost, State Constitution Among Concern Over Law

Four Oklahoma school districts have voted not to comply with a new state law that would let students with disabilities use public money to go to private schools.

School boards for the 4,400-student Bixby and 14,900-student Union school districts, both in the Tulsa, Okla., area, voted Oct. 11 not to provide scholarships to parents who apply for them under the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Act, which became effective in August. The Broken Arrow and Jenks school boards, also in the Tulsa area, had already voted on Oct. 4 not to comply with the law.

When Democratic Gov. Brad Henry signed the scholarship measure into law last June, Oklahoma joined Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Utah in creating a voucher program to help pay for private school for children with disabilities, according to Jeanne Allen, the president of the Washington-based Center for Education Reform, which is a strong...