New Law Streamlines Access to Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Special Needs

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Legislature has taken decisive action to expand educational opportunities for students with special needs by removing barriers to access the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program.

Governor Kevin Stitt has signed Senate Bill 105 from Senate Majority Floor Leader Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, and Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid.

The measure removes the requirement that a student attend a public school for a year before applying for a Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship. SB 105 also clarifies that students on an individualized education program (IEP), an individualized service plan (ISP) or who meet the eligibility standards for special education services in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are eligible to participate in the program. 

“Parents shouldn’t have to keep their child in a school that’s not working for them just to wait out an arbitrary, one-year requirement to access financial aid for which their child already qualifies,” said Leader Daniels. “Now, families can access the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship without unnecessary delays and enroll their child in the school best suited to meet their special needs.”

The Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarship program authorizes the parent or guardian of a student with a disability who is served under IDEA to request a scholarship for their child to attend a participating private school approved by the State Board of Education. The program has been in place since 2011 and currently serves about 1,500 students. 

Oklahoma City parent Jennifer Stall said she is grateful for this change in state law.

"The Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarship allows our family to afford a specialized form of education — one that recognizes that our son is not only on the autism spectrum but also undeniably intelligent. Since this nuanced, highly specialized instruction is not available within our local public school district, SB 105 is an answered prayer. Now, he won’t have to wait a year to go to the school we have chosen for him.”

“SB 105 is a win for Oklahoma families,” said Jennifer Carter, Senior Advisor for the American Federation for Children in Oklahoma. “This reform ensures that students who face serious challenges — including disabilities or homelessness — can get access to the schools that best meet their needs, without unnecessary delays or red tape. It's a powerful step forward for educational freedom and family empowerment in our state.”

In addition to students with disabilities, other eligible special needs students include those who:

• have an Individualized Service Plan developed by the Department of Human Services;
• have been in out-of-home placement with DHS or were adopted while in the permanent custody of DHS;
• have been in out-of-home placement through the office of Juvenile Affairs; or
• are a child of a military family with permanent change of station orders who has moved to Oklahoma.

SB 105 takes effect July 1.

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For more information, contact Sen. Julie Daniels at 405-521-5634 or email Julie.Daniels@oksenate.gov