Vouchers Proposed for Disabled Pupils in Military Homes

As his mother, Karen Driscoll, left, looks on, Paul Driscoll, a 12-year-old with autism, takes a break after getting overstimulated during playtime. Behavior challenges, a symptom of autism, affect an individual's ability to function in all areas of life.

—Sandy Huffaker for Education Week

By Christina A. Samuels

A proposed $5 million voucher program for military families that have children with special education needs is part of the defense-spending bill that Congress will take up in its post-election lame-duck session.

The pilot program would provide up to $7,500 per year for school costs. The U.S. Department of Defense would be required to evaluate the success of the program in a report to be completed no later than 2015.

The pilot program is only one of several provisions tucked into the $726 billion defense bill that are intended to improve schooling for military children who require special education services. The proposed amendment, which was sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., would also direct the secretaries of defense and education to collaborate on issues such as expedited due process resolution for military families, creation of individualized education programs that are applicable across state lines, and establishment of a complaint...