Follow-up Documentary on Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships Released

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs has released a new ten minute documentary following up with three students with special needs who have been using the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Act for the last year. 

Lindsey Nicole Henry Stories, Part 2 takes a look at how Chloe, Rob and Phylicia are doing after they were featured in a powerful twenty-five minute documentary released a year ago. The benefits of the program have exceeded my expectations. 

Tulsa's KOTV interviews parent sued by Jenks, Union Schools

Oklahoma House District 87 - Click here for link to News on 6 full story

NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

Oklahoma Supreme Court decision (Nov. 20, 2012)

Nelson Statement on Oklahoma Supreme Court Ruling on Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship (Nov. 20, 2012)

Updated: Well established case law says House Bill 3393 is constitutional (Nov. 20, 2012)

AG Statement on Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Decision (Nov. 20, 2012)

Documentary on Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship (Aug. 1, 2012)

Jenks and Union Schools Continue Vendetta Against Children with Special Needs (Sept. 7, 2011)

New Documentary on Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Posted

Update: On Nov. 20, 2012, the Oklahoma Supreme Court tossed out the lawsuit against the parents of student with special needs.

Please take time to watch this powerful 25 minute documentary and then share it with your friends and social media networks. 

Earlier this year a district judge in Tulsa County ruled that this life-changing special education school choice program was unconstitutional. The judge gave no basis for the decision. The judge did allow the program to continue during appeal. 

The case is currently on appeal with the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Supporters, and some who oppose the program, asked in separate requests in June for permission to file additional legal briefs in the case. The attorney general and the parents who were sued by two public school districts for using the program have also asked for the opportunity to present oral argument to the court. The Supreme Court has not addressed these requests. 

The Court could issue a decision any day without addressing the pending requests. 

The documentary was shown for the first time last night before a public audience on the University of Central Oklahoma campus. The showing was followed by a panel discussion on the status of the program. 

I will be providing timely updates on this blog as events unfold and I also recommend that you visit https://www.facebook.com/HenryScholarships to learn more and share your stories. 

Thank you for taking the time to watch this important documentary and to learn more about this successful but threatened program. 

"Chloe" -- A Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Story

"Phylicia" -- A Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Story

Please share this video about the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Act. 

This simple program is changing the lives of many children in Oklahoma for the better. A district judge ruled earlier this year that the 2010 law is unconstitutional. The Oklahoma Supreme Court agreed earlier this week to hear an appeal by parents who are being sued by two school districts for using the program to help their children. I hope you will support this program and let others know you think it is important that it be protected for the sake of special-needs children now and in the future. 

Parent Post on HB 3393: "They would never say she was dyslexic ..."

"In my daughters' Individual Education Plan they [the school district] would write " Her mother states she shows all the signs and symptoms of dyslexia" . They would never say she was dyslexic because then they would have to provide services for someone who was dyslexic. And guess what they don't have a program for dyslexics."

(I received this post from a parent within the last week. Some Tulsa area school districts are refusing to follow House Bill 3393, a new law that provides scholarships to students with disabilities. I've re-posted it because I want to share with others what I'm hearing from parents about the importance of House Bill 3393. The Parent Emails that I've been posting are a representative sample of the dozens of emails, comments and letters I've received because of HB3393.)

Parents: Tulsa County Schools Turned Their Backs On Us

Parents: Tulsa County Schools Turned Their Backs On Us - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com

Parent Email on HB3393: "I wonder if he has talked to parents in his district that have applied"

"I will say that our family is very committed to and supportive of public schools and we have tried to work within the system to get services as provided for in federal ADA and IDEA Acts within our local school. I have to tell you that it is a struggle and I know from talking to other parents in a number of the local school districts that we are not alone. With some of the struggles we have had to get services, I am sympathetic to parents who are trying to avail themselves to alternatives offered under the new law.

"I do think that if the school districts are truly only interested in the constitutionality of the law and what is best for students that there are more constructive approaches. Specifically in regards to Superintendent Mendenhall's comments that 'this is more about the kids', I wonder if he has talked to parents in his district that have applied for the program to determine why and what BA schools could do to support there needs. I also wonder if he would be willing to put the associated funds into escrow while the matter is being determined. That would seem to be a reasonable accommodation if it is not about the money."

(I received this email from a parent within the last week. I've posted it because I want to share with others what I'm hearing from parents about the importance of House Bill 3393. The Parent Emails that I've been posting are a representative sample of the dozens of emails I've received because of HB3393.)

Parent Email: Too afraid to speak out against Jenks and their treatment of special education students

Dear Mr. Nelson, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The statements you made regarding Jenks and Broken Arrow in the Tulsa World today are 100% correct! People in Tulsa and Jenks are too afraid to publically speak out against Jenks and their treatment of the special education students!

Jenks is currently being audited by the Office of Civil Rights for violating ADA laws and a list of Special Education Laws that they are in noncompliance. ...

Jenks also has a reputation for interpreting the law so that they don’t have to offer services and/or water the services down so it is very minimal. They also are in violation of offering the same services to all students rather than individualized as required by law. 

Jenks spends a unbelievable amount of money to keep the law firm on retainer because Jenks does not follow the law. I wonder what the public would say if they knew how much of our schools tax dollars went to pay the law firm? If the tax payers had a say in whether that money went to the law firm or the general education fund I know they would say the money should go to our kids! It is disgusting how much money the law firm gets.

It is ridiculous that Jenks insists that they educate and care about their special education kids. Since we [have been in Jenks] my [child] has regressed two years. They have such low expectations and do very little to increase their intelligence and more to teach the kids “life skills”.

Please don’t let up on them! No matter how intimidating they are and the law firm is …..Jenks thinks they are God and above the law and everyone else in this town and so many people and businesses cower down to them all the time. They have the attorneys scare everyone. Everyone knows this but no one has successfully been able to do anything about it. THANK YOU! Sincerely,

(I received this email from a parent within the last week. I've posted it because I want to share with others what I'm hearing from parents about the importance of House Bill 3393. The Parent Emails that I've been posting are a representative sample of the dozens of emails I've received because of HB3393.)

Parent Email on HB3393: "From experience I can tell you that it is a struggle to get services"

I did want to pass my comments and concerns on to you. As a parent of a special needs child I am supportive of HB3393. I do think that optimally public schools should be supporting our special needs children but from experience I can tell you that it is a struggle to get services. I did express my concerns to my school board rep in Union and from the response I got it sounds like they will be joining other areas districts in 'ignoring' the law. It did seem to me that a good portion of the response that I received was drafted by attorney(s) that are evidently advising the board.

(I received this email from a parent within the last week. I've posted it because I want to share with others what I'm hearing from parents about the importance of House Bill 3393. The Parent Emails that I've been posting are a representative sample of the dozens of emails I've received because of HB3393.)

Parent Email: "These children are victims of bureaucratic policies that would prefer to see kids wait"

Dear Representative Nelson,

Thank you... thank you... thank you

I have now seen firsthand exactly what your campaign for HB 3393 is all about. …

I was never aware of how serious these issues are for our delayed or special needs child until we had a son born with mild cerebral palsy. Since then I've sought out families across Oklahoma to learn more about their struggles with assistance for their children. What I've heard has been very sad.

At three and a half years of age now, our son … has only attended public school here … for the past 6 months. It has truly been a disappointment and a very sad state of affairs to see how these children are victims of bureaucratic policies that would prefer to see kids wait until a "later date" to really address problems. Please believe me when I say that I could go on and one about what really happens in the public school setting at IEP meetings, and what does not happen in the classroom that should. The same people that claim how critical it is to get these therapies (OT, PT, and speech therapy) at the earliest stages of brain development are some of the same people that want to deny the children many of these "life" critical foundation therapies. My eyes have only been opened by parents of other children who are already years down the road in this process...it's very sad.

It seems that the only way to get the school systems attention frequently is to mention due process... very unfortunate and wrong. …

We're much too smart and educated in this country to let our children wither this way.

Thanks so much and may God continue to bless you sir.

Sincerely,
BB

(I received this email from a parent within the last week. I've posted it because I want to share with others what I'm hearing from parents about the importance of House Bill 3393. This Parent Email is a representative sample of the dozens of emails I've received because of HB3393.)