PARENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM IN NORTH CAROLINA

Victory for children with special needs


Tax credit measure becomes law at midnight

History will be made for thousands of children across North Carolina on Friday when House Bill 344 (Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities) officially became law.

Gov. Beverly Perdue released a final list of bills under her consideration this afternoon, which included a statement saying that she will let the measure become law without her signature. This means the bill will become law at midnight.

This is the first piece of K-12 legislation in North Carolina that gives parents statewide school choice where private education is an option. The measure allows parents of special needs children to claim a tax credit of up to $6,000 for educational expenses that include private school tuition, therapy and tutoring. With this bill, parents can better afford placing their disabled child in an educational environment that best meets their needs.

PEFNC President Darrell Allison would like to thank Gov. Beverly Perdue for not vetoing the measure, which became law behind strong legislative and public support, including 65 percent of all Democrats – 14 out of 19 Democrats in the Senate and 32 out of 52 Democrats in the House – voting for the bill. A February statewide poll of Democratic voters, commissioned by PEFNC, found that 82 percent favored such a program.

PEFNC has remained vigilant in its support for House Bill 344, including nearly 800 supporters calling Gov. Perdue and pleading with her to support the bill as well as the production of this video featuring parents and children who would benefit from the measure.

Allison would also like to thank legislators for their support as well as the statewide coalition of groups, who along with PEFNC, gave their expertise and commitment to House Bill 344: Jennifer Mahan with the Autism Society of North Carolina, Joni Alberg with BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children Who are Deaf or Hard or Hearing and Julia Adams with The ARC of North Carolina.

“Special thanks goes to Rep. Paul Stam for his years of work and dedication towards helping our children with special needs,” Allison said. “Allowing all of our children to receive a good, sound education in North Carolina means having them learn in the educational environment that best meets their needs. This will now be possible for thousands more of our children.”

Nearly 200,000 K-12 students in North Carolina public schools are estimated to be receiving special education and other related services this school year. This costs the state $8,160 and school districts $1,931 per student. It is estimated that up to five percent of qualified students will take advantage of the tax credit, which would annually save taxpayers up to $10 million and school districts up to $4 million per year within the next five years. This savings will be placed in a fund for special needs programs in public schools.

Programs similar to House Bill 344 exist in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah.

“Now we can add North Carolina to the list of states that are going above and beyond by embracing the ideals of real parental school choice for families,” Allison said. “This piece of legislation lays the foundation for similar options in the future for our students.”

Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina
4900 Falls of Neuse Rd. Suite 155
Raleigh, NC 27609
http://www.pefnc.org/home