FLORIDA: Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options

Robert Fanger ESA comparison by Policy 25 July 2024 Hits: 106

Fund Administrator:
- Synopsis:
  Department of Education
  , Statute Language:
  13. Adjust payments to eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations and, when the Florida Education Finance Program is recalculated, adjust the amount of state funds allocated to school districts through the Florida Education Finance Program based upon the results of the cross-check completed pursuant to subparagraph 2.
Funding Mechanism:
- Synopsis:
  Direct
  , Statute Language:
  (a) An eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization awarding scholarships to eligible students pursuant to paragraph (3)(a):
  1. Must receive applications, determine student eligibility, notify parents in accordance with the requirements of this section, and provide the department with information on the student to enable the department to determine student funding in accordance with paragraph (12)(a).
  2. Shall verify the household income level of students and submit the verified list of students and related documentation to the department when necessary.
  3. Shall award scholarships in priority order pursuant to paragraph (3)(a).
  4. Shall establish and maintain separate empowerment accounts for each eligible student. For each account, the organization must maintain a record of accrued interest that is retained in the student’s account and available only for authorized program expenditures.
Program Administrator (Gov't):
- Synopsis:
  Department of Education/Scholarship-funding organization
  , Statute Language:
  3. The organization must provide the department with the documentation necessary to verify the student’s participation. Upon receiving the documentation, the department shall transfer, beginning August 1, from state funds only, the amount calculated pursuant to 2subparagraph 2. to the organization for quarterly disbursement to parents of participating students each school year in which the scholarship is in force. For a student exiting a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program who chooses to participate in the scholarship program, the amount of the Family Empowerment Scholarship calculated pursuant to 2subparagraph 2. must be transferred from the school district in which the student last attended a public school before commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. When a student enters the scholarship program, the organization must receive all documentation required for the student’s participation, including the private school’s and the student’s fee schedules, at least 30 days before the first quarterly scholarship payment is made for the student.
Third Party Administrator:
- Synopsis:
  Step Up for Students and AAA Scholarship Foundation
  , Statute Language:
  Step Up for Students and AAA Scholarship Foundation
Role of DOE:
- Synopsis:
  Fund/Program Administrator
  , Statute Language:
  3. The organization must provide the department with the documentation necessary to verify the student’s participation. Upon receiving the documentation, the department shall transfer, beginning August 1, from state funds only, the amount calculated pursuant to 2subparagraph 2. to the organization for quarterly disbursement to parents of participating students each school year in which the scholarship is in force. For a student exiting a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program who chooses to participate in the scholarship program, the amount of the Family Empowerment Scholarship calculated pursuant to 2subparagraph 2. must be transferred from the school district in which the student last attended a public school before commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. When a student enters the scholarship program, the organization must receive all documentation required for the student’s participation, including the private school’s and the student’s fee schedules, at least 30 days before the first quarterly scholarship payment is made for the student.
Application Window/Dates:
- Synopsis:
  SGO determines (Spring)
  , Statute Language:
  3. The organization must provide the department with the documentation necessary to verify the student’s participation. Upon receiving the documentation, the department shall transfer, beginning August 1, from state funds only, the amount calculated pursuant to 2subparagraph 2. to the organization for quarterly disbursement to parents of participating students each school year in which the scholarship is in force. For a student exiting a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program who chooses to participate in the scholarship program, the amount of the Family Empowerment Scholarship calculated pursuant to 2subparagraph 2. must be transferred from the school district in which the student last attended a public school before commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. When a student enters the scholarship program, the organization must receive all documentation required for the student’s participation, including the private school’s and the student’s fee schedules, at least 30 days before the first quarterly scholarship payment is made for the student.
Fund Disbursement Frequency:
- Synopsis:
  Quarterly
  , Statute Language:
  3. The organization must provide the department with the documentation necessary to verify the student’s participation. Upon receiving the documentation, the department shall transfer, beginning August 1, from state funds only, the amount calculated pursuant to 2subparagraph 2. to the organization for quarterly disbursement to parents of participating students each school year in which the scholarship is in force. For a student exiting a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program who chooses to participate in the scholarship program, the amount of the Family Empowerment Scholarship calculated pursuant to 2subparagraph 2. must be transferred from the school district in which the student last attended a public school before commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. When a student enters the scholarship program, the organization must receive all documentation required for the student’s participation, including the private school’s and the student’s fee schedules, at least 30 days before the first quarterly scholarship payment is made for the student.
Average Per-Pupil Funding:
- Synopsis:
  $8,100
  , Statute Language:
  (a)1. Scholarships for students determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) may be funded once all scholarships have been funded in accordance with s. 1002.395(6)(l)2. The calculated scholarship amount for a participating student determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) shall be based upon the grade level and school district in which the student was assigned as 100 percent of the funds per unweighted full-time equivalent in the Florida Education Finance Program for a student in the basic program established pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(c)1., plus a per-full-time equivalent share of funds for the categorical programs established in s. 1011.62(5), (7)(a), and (16), as funded in the General Appropriations Act.
Rollover Policy:
- Synopsis:
  None
Income Limit:
- Synopsis:
  None
  , Statute Language:
  (3) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—
  (a)1. A parent of a student may request and receive from the state a scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph (4)(a) if the student is a resident of this state and is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public school in this state.
  2. Priority must be given in the following order:
  a. A student whose household income level does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who is in foster care or out-of-home care.
  b. A student whose household income level exceeds 185 percent of the federal poverty level, but does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
  (b) A parent of a student with a disability may request and receive from the state a scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph (4)(b) if the student:
  1. Is a resident of this state;
  2. Is 3 or 4 years of age on or before September 1 of the year in which the student applies for program participation or is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public school in this state;
  3. Has a disability as defined in subsection (2); and
  4. Is the subject of an IEP written in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education or with the applicable rules of another state or has received a diagnosis of a disability from a physician who is licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, a psychologist who is licensed under chapter 490, or a physician who holds an active license issued by another state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  (c) An approved student who does not receive a scholarship must be placed on the wait list in the order in which the student is approved. An eligible student who does not receive a scholarship within the fiscal year must be retained on the wait list for the subsequent year.
Prior Year Public School Requirement:
- Synopsis:
  None
  , Statute Language:
  (3) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—
  (a)1. A parent of a student may request and receive from the state a scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph (4)(a) if the student is a resident of this state and is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public school in this state.
  2. Priority must be given in the following order:
  a. A student whose household income level does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who is in foster care or out-of-home care.
  b. A student whose household income level exceeds 185 percent of the federal poverty level, but does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
  (b) A parent of a student with a disability may request and receive from the state a scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph (4)(b) if the student:
  1. Is a resident of this state;
  2. Is 3 or 4 years of age on or before September 1 of the year in which the student applies for program participation or is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public school in this state;
  3. Has a disability as defined in subsection (2); and
  4. Is the subject of an IEP written in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education or with the applicable rules of another state or has received a diagnosis of a disability from a physician who is licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, a psychologist who is licensed under chapter 490, or a physician who holds an active license issued by another state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  (c) An approved student who does not receive a scholarship must be placed on the wait list in the order in which the student is approved. An eligible student who does not receive a scholarship within the fiscal year must be retained on the wait list for the subsequent year.
Geographic Limit:
- Synopsis:
  Statewide
  , Statute Language:
  (3) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—
  (a)1. A parent of a student may request and receive from the state a scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph (4)(a) if the student is a resident of this state and is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public school in this state.
  2. Priority must be given in the following order:
  a. A student whose household income level does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who is in foster care or out-of-home care.
  b. A student whose household income level exceeds 185 percent of the federal poverty level, but does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
  (b) A parent of a student with a disability may request and receive from the state a scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph (4)(b) if the student:
  1. Is a resident of this state;
  2. Is 3 or 4 years of age on or before September 1 of the year in which the student applies for program participation or is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public school in this state;
  3. Has a disability as defined in subsection (2); and
  4. Is the subject of an IEP written in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education or with the applicable rules of another state or has received a diagnosis of a disability from a physician who is licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, a psychologist who is licensed under chapter 490, or a physician who holds an active license issued by another state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  (c) An approved student who does not receive a scholarship must be placed on the wait list in the order in which the student is approved. An eligible student who does not receive a scholarship within the fiscal year must be retained on the wait list for the subsequent year.
Additional Eligibility Check:
- Synopsis:
  Priority to 185% x Poverty and foster care
  , Statute Language:
  a. A student whose household income level does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who is in foster care or out-of-home care.
  b. A student whose household income level exceeds 185 percent of the federal poverty level, but does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
Homeschool Compatible:
- Synopsis:
  Yes
  , Statute Language:
  (3) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—
  (a)1. A parent of a student may request and receive from the state a scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph (4)(a) if the student is a resident of this state and is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public school in this state.
  2. Priority must be given in the following order:
  a. A student whose household income level does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who is in foster care or out-of-home care.
  b. A student whose household income level exceeds 185 percent of the federal poverty level, but does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
  (b) A parent of a student with a disability may request and receive from the state a scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph (4)(b) if the student:
  1. Is a resident of this state;
  2. Is 3 or 4 years of age on or before September 1 of the year in which the student applies for program participation or is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public school in this state;
  3. Has a disability as defined in subsection (2); and
  4. Is the subject of an IEP written in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education or with the applicable rules of another state or has received a diagnosis of a disability from a physician who is licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, a psychologist who is licensed under chapter 490, or a physician who holds an active license issued by another state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  (c) An approved student who does not receive a scholarship must be placed on the wait list in the order in which the student is approved. An eligible student who does not receive a scholarship within the fiscal year must be retained on the wait list for the subsequent year.
Enrollment Cap:
- Synopsis:
  None
Lottery:
- Synopsis:
  None
Testing:
- Synopsis:
  National/State
  , Statute Language:
  6. Require that the student participating in the scholarship program takes the norm-referenced assessment offered by the private school. The parent may also choose to have the student participate in the statewide assessments pursuant to paragraph (7)(d). If the parent requests that the student participating in the program take all statewide assessments required pursuant to s. 1008.22, the parent is responsible for transporting the student to the assessment site designated by the school district.
Authorized Use of Funds:
- Synopsis:
  Private School Tuition
  Online Education
  Private Tutoring
  Public School Services (Classes and/or Extracurricular)
  Fees for Choice Navigator
  Textbooks
  Curricula and Supplementary Materials
  Computers/Technology
  Testing Fees
  College Tuition/Fees
  CTE / Industry Credentials
  , Statute Language:
  (a) Program funds awarded to a student determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) may be used for:
  
  1. Tuition and fees at an eligible private school.
  
  2. Transportation to a Florida public school in which a student is enrolled and that is different from the school to which the student was assigned or to a lab school as defined in s. 1002.32.
  
  3. Instructional materials, including digital materials and Internet resources.
  
  4. Curriculum as defined in subsection (2).
  
  5. Tuition and fees associated with full-time or part-time enrollment in an eligible postsecondary educational institution or a program offered by the postsecondary educational institution, unless the program is subject to s. 1009.25 or reimbursed pursuant to s. 1009.30; an approved preapprenticeship program as defined in s. 446.021(5) which is not subject to s. 1009.25 and complies with all applicable requirements of the department pursuant to chapter 1005; a private tutoring program authorized under s. 1002.43; a virtual program offered by a department-approved private online provider that meets the provider qualifications specified in s. 1002.45(2)(a); the Florida Virtual School as a private paying student; or an approved online course offered pursuant to s. 1003.499 or s. 1004.0961.
  
  6. Fees for nationally standardized, norm-referenced achievement tests, Advanced Placement Examinations, industry certification examinations, assessments related to postsecondary education, or other assessments.
  
  7. Contracted services provided by a public school or school district, including classes. A student who receives contracted services under this subparagraph is not considered enrolled in a public school for eligibility purposes as specified in subsection (6) but rather attending a public school on a part-time basis as authorized under s. 1002.44.
  
  8. Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring services or fees for services provided by a choice navigator. Such services must be provided by a person who holds a valid Florida educator’s certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, a person who holds an adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s. 1012.57, a person who has a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree in the subject area in which instruction is given, a person who has demonstrated a mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to s. 1012.56(5), or a person certified by a nationally or internationally recognized research-based training program as approved by the department. As used in this subparagraph, the term “part-time tutoring services” does not qualify as regular school attendance as defined in 1s. 1003.01(16)(e).
  
  (b) Program funds awarded to a student with a disability determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) may be used for the following purposes:
  
  1. Instructional materials, including digital devices, digital periphery devices, and assistive technology devices that allow a student to access instruction or instructional content and training on the use of and maintenance agreements for these devices.
  
  2. Curriculum as defined in subsection (2).
  
  3. Specialized services by approved providers or by a hospital in this state which are selected by the parent. These specialized services may include, but are not limited to:
  
  a. Applied behavior analysis services as provided in ss. 627.6686 and 641.31098.
  
  b. Services provided by speech-language pathologists as defined in s. 468.1125(8).
  
  c. Occupational therapy as defined in s. 468.203.
  
  d. Services provided by physical therapists as defined in s. 486.021(8).
  
  e. Services provided by listening and spoken language specialists and an appropriate acoustical environment for a child who has a hearing impairment, including deafness, and who has received an implant or assistive hearing device.
  
  4. Tuition and fees associated with full-time or part-time enrollment in a home education program; an eligible private school; an eligible postsecondary educational institution or a program offered by the postsecondary educational institution, unless the program is subject to s. 1009.25 or reimbursed pursuant to s. 1009.30; an approved preapprenticeship program as defined in s. 446.021(5) which is not subject to s. 1009.25 and complies with all applicable requirements of the department pursuant to chapter 1005; a private tutoring program authorized under s. 1002.43; a virtual program offered by a department-approved private online provider that meets the provider qualifications specified in s. 1002.45(2)(a); the Florida Virtual School as a private paying student; or an approved online course offered pursuant to s. 1003.499 or s. 1004.0961.
  
  5. Fees for nationally standardized, norm-referenced achievement tests, Advanced Placement Examinations, industry certification examinations, assessments related to postsecondary education, or other assessments.
  
  6. Contributions to the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program pursuant to s. 1009.98 or the Florida College Savings Program pursuant to s. 1009.981 for the benefit of the eligible student.
  
  7. Contracted services provided by a public school or school district, including classes. A student who receives services under a contract under this paragraph is not considered enrolled in a public school for eligibility purposes as specified in subsection (6) but rather attending a public school on a part-time basis as authorized under s. 1002.44.
  
  8. Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring services or fees for services provided by a choice navigator. Such services must be provided by a person who holds a valid Florida educator’s certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, a person who holds an adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s. 1012.57, a person who has a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree in the subject area in which instruction is given, a person who has demonstrated a mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to s. 1012.56(5), or a person certified by a nationally or internationally recognized research-based training program as approved by the department. As used in this subparagraph, the term “part-time tutoring services” does not qualify as regular school attendance as defined in s. 1003.01(16)(e).
  
  9. Fees for specialized summer education programs.
  
  10. Fees for specialized after-school education programs.
  
  11. Transition services provided by job coaches.
  
  12. Fees for an annual evaluation of educational progress by a state-certified teacher under s. 1002.41(1)(f), if this option is chosen for a home education student.
  
  13. Tuition and fees associated with programs offered by Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program providers approved pursuant to s. 1002.55 and school readiness providers approved pursuant to s. 1002.88.
  
  14. Fees for services provided at a center that is a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.
  
  15. Fees for services provided by a therapist who is certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists or credentialed by the Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc.

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FLORIDA: Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options