Senate Bill 2695, which promises to provide more educational opportunities for students with disabilities, passed through the Senate Education Committee in late January.  The bill will now be voted on by the Senate.
SB 2695 would give parents the option to utilize state funds as a scholarship. The scholarship would then allow the student to attend a school that best addresses his or her specific needs. Thus far, Mississippi schools have struggled to properly address the academic demands of students with disabilities. 
Jody Woodrum, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said she has mixed feelings aboutthe bill.
“This bill is partially out of concern for students not allowed access to the programs they need, but it is also part of the whole voucher movement. The first reason is positive, but the second is a problem. The voucher movement is a way of syphoning off certain students to the private sector. It completely dilutes public education,” she said.
Woodrum said the best thing the education system can do for students with disabilities is to build strong partnerships with the families.
“Public education is the best hope for the future,” Woodrum said. “The people involved want to make a difference and kids’ lives, and they do, every day. Specifically speaking for Starkville, we have 400 special needs students. When parents, teachers, and students work together, we can accomplish anything. You can’t always find that in the private sector.”
Devon Brenner, department head of curriculum and special education, said it is crucial that every student’s needs are met regardless of whether or not a student has a disability.
“It is most important to meet the needs of all students. Every child deserves equal access to education regardless of disability. Not just because it’s the federal law, but because it is the right thing to do to make sure all students succeed,” Brenner said. “Traditional schools face many challenges because there is a shortage of teachers. There is a teacher shortage in general, but there is definitely a shortage in special education teachers. However, our K-12 schools still have the capacity to address the needs of all students, including special needs students.”
Brenner said addressing special education tactics is the main issue, but people should look from several angles to find the solution. 
“Resources are limited, but it is important to support public schools as much as possible. There might be another way to frame this issue without making it a matter of choice,” Brenner said. “If families feel their kids’ needs are not being met, perhaps they should really look into why that is. Parents should try to understand what exactly the issue is before spending all the money and resources. We do need to do better at addressing special education students’ needs, but we should attack the problem from a different angle.”
The bill was initially suggested last year, but it was rejected. It was reintroduced this year by Sen. Nancy Collins and Rep. Carolyn Crawford.
Mandy Rogers, a parent and special needs advocate, said overall this bill will be benificial to not only special needs students and parents, but to the education system as a whole.
“I have dealt with special education issues for 20 years,” Rogers said. “The same ones I faced years ago, parents of children with disabilities are facing today. It is like a merry go round that you cannot get off of. This bill will introduce a five-year pilot program. We are going to see just how beneficial it can be.”
Rogers said the bill only applies to parents who are not happy with the way their children are being handled, and all other parents can stay just where they are.
“Whether it is kids with disabilities or without, sometimes students fall through the cracks. It can be seen in both cases,” she said. “Parents who feel the public system is properly addressing all their children’s needs, do not have to switch schools. They can choose to stay where they are. This bill is for parents who do not feel that way and are tired of not feeling that way. If we have an educated population, we will do better as a state. Everyone deserves a quality education.”