Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium

Since the 1970s, the number of students receiving special education services across the United States has increased more than 66 percent.  A limited but growing body of research suggests that financial or other incentives may be responsible for some of the growth.  Across the country, some states now offer special education students scholarships to attend a school of their parents’ choice.  Florida’s McKay voucher program is the largest special needs scholarship program in the country.  

A new report from the Manhattan Institute examines special education enrollment rates in Florida and finds that the opportunity to use a voucher reduces the likelihood that a student will be placed in special education.  This forum will feature a presentation from the authors of the Manhattan Institute report as well as comments from the New America Foundation’s Sarah Mead, a leading scholar on special education policy. 

Please join us for a lively panel discussion on the role of school choice policies in special education.