Strengthen ESA Access for Children With Disabilities

Scripture is clear that children are a heritage from the Lord, and with that gift comes a sacred responsibility. Parents, not government institutions, bear primary authority for the upbringing and formation of their children. Educational Savings Accounts are one of the most direct policy expressions of that principle, allowing families to direct their child's education rather than simply accepting whatever assignment the system provides.

Children with disabilities present a particularly important case for this kind of parental empowerment. Every child is made in the image of God and possesses inherent dignity. A disability does not diminish that dignity, nor should it diminish a family's right to seek an education aligned with their faith, their convictions, and their intimate knowledge of their own child's needs. A government-assigned placement, however well-intentioned, cannot replicate the discernment of parents who know and love their child.

SB1704 strengthens the ESA framework specifically for this population by refining the requirements that govern how these accounts function. That kind of targeted improvement matters. Policies that look good on paper can fail families in practice when the administrative structure surrounding them is unclear or burdensome. Getting the requirements right is not a bureaucratic concern; it is a justice concern for the families depending on these accounts.

The American Council holds that no child's disability should become a barrier to a family's ability to choose an education that honors God and reflects their values. This bill moves in the right direction by ensuring the ESA mechanism works as it should for one of the most vulnerable populations it is designed to serve. We urge its passage.