Kristen Rivera

I oppose HB1803. I have four children and with the help of ETC Scholarships AND EFA accounts, we are able to choose the learning environment that suits their individual needs. Children's needs vary greatly, even within the same family. My children have blossomed in their own schools. Attending their current schools, they have developed a love of learning and a passion "to do." They love attending and look forward to being able to create, explore, and learn in unique ways. ETC Scholarships are privately funded and therefore should have nothing to do with publicly funded EFA accounts. In addition, families shouldn't have to forfeit funds at the end of each school year. Funds are already forfeited once a child graduates high school or withdraws from the program. If there are funds left in a child's EFA accounts at the end of the school year, it helps pay for future expenses. For example, my son is going into middle school next year. Which means he will be transitioning to a different school which requires students to bring their own laptops. Having any rollover from the previous year helps with the child's education for those types of expenses or tutoring that may arise. Please, consider the families that participate in these amazing programs. Consider how children's educations will be interrupted and even completely taken away (as would be the case within my own family). Vote against HB1803.