* There are certain rural areas of the state that have no private providers – although this geographic disparity predates the ASP, it determines which families can access and utilize the ASP.
   * There are limited providers for older school age children, such as middle school and high school.

    * ASO may not be able to provide advice on the quality of the services of the private providers.  The same can be said for the public schools as they have clearly struggled to deliver consistently appropriate services throughout the state.
    * Transportation is not provided in the Autism Scholarship unless it is in the IEP, which comes out of the $20,000 cap.  This prevents some families from being able to take advantage of the program.
    * Students utilizing the scholarship relinquish their right to FAPE – free appropriate public education.  Parents are responsible for ensuring that their child is getting an appropriate education.
    * There is no process for resolving disputes between parents and private providers.
    * There is no due process in private sector.
    * Private providers can refuse to serve a student with ASD.
    * Many private providers offer segregated settings.
    * Because the scholarship is capped at $20k, if a provider charges more than $20k, poorer families may not be able to make up cost difference between scholarship and private tuition and therefore are unable to access the program.