Pruitt
TULSA, Okla. (Legal Newsline) - Four Oklahoma school boards voted on Monday to sue the state's new attorney general, Scott Pruitt, over a law that uses taxpayer money to send disabled students to private schools.
The law, called the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Act, allows students with disabilities who have an individualized education program to qualify for a scholarship to attend any public or private school that meets the accreditation requirements of the state Board of Education.
The act received support from families of children with autism. It was signed into law in June.
Pruitt gave the four Tulsa-area boards for Broken Arrow, Jenks, Liberty and Union school districts until Monday to reply to a letter from him threatening legal action if they did not comply with the law, according to The Oklahoman.
The newspaper reported that the four school districts agreed to process scholarship applications until a decision is reached in the case, still complying with the law.
Some school officials say they believe the law is "in conflict" with the state's constitution.
However, Oklahoma Schools Superintendent Janet Barresi told The Oklahoman that she was disappointed in the boards' decision to sue Pruitt.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.