School Vouchers Top Legislative Priority List, But Will It Pass This Session?

And the debate during this next session will include special needs children.

By Ryan PoppeDecember 9, 2016 10:02 am, , ,

Audio will be available shortly. 

From Texas Public Radio

In a small coffee shop on the west side of Round Rock Leslie Polvado takes a break from her hectic schedule.   The 42-year-old mom runs a non-profit that promotes independent living for people with special needs.  She also home schools her 12-year-old autistic son, Grayson.

“By looking at him, you would actually probably never know it, unless you knew what to look for,” Palvado says.

Polvado says Grayson used to attend public school but the teachers couldn’t handle his disruptive behavior – like talking to himself and others in class.

“His school would call me up and say, ‘He is doing this, and I would say, well is anyone in danger? No. Is he causing a major disruption? No.  But, he’s not doing his work. Well, he does have on-task reminders as an accommodation and if he’s balking it, send it home for homework. I’m certified to teach, I can help him with his homework,’” Palvado explains.

Polvado says she quit her job as a special education teacher and began homeschooling because she couldn’t afford tuition at a private school which would cost up to $10,000 a year.

“Unless you have the funding for private school or you can get past the wait list and get in a charter your options are pretty much possibly an inter-district transfer or home schooling,” Palvado says.

State Sen. Donna Campbell, a New Braunfels Republican, believes public school dollars should be used to educate children like Grayson in the program that suits their needs,  even if it’s in a private school.

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