Navigating Eligibility for Florida's Empowerment Scholarship Fund

Florida's commitment to educational choice is exemplified through its Empowerment Scholarship Fund, offering various pathways for students to access educational opportunities that best fit their needs. Understanding the eligibility requirements for these scholarships is crucial for families seeking financial assistance. This article breaks down the different scholarship programs under the Family Empowerment Scholarship umbrella, outlining their specific criteria and benefits.

Expansion of School Choice Through House Bill 1

The landscape of school choice in Florida underwent a significant transformation with the enactment of House Bill (HB) 1 on March 27, 2023, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis. This legislation broadened school choice options for all students in Florida, providing avenues for them to attend participating private schools and access personalized learning experiences.

Family Empowerment Scholarship Program: A Gateway to Educational Options

The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program encompasses several branches designed to cater to diverse student needs. These include scholarships for students with unique abilities, those from low-to-middle-income families, and those facing literacy challenges.

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)

The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) offers financial assistance to K-12 students, regardless of household income, to attend private schools. The average scholarship is \$8,000, covering tuition and related costs. The FES-EO program prioritizes students from families earning no more than 185% of the federal poverty level, as well as those who are Armed Forces members, adopted children, and those in foster care. Siblings of participating students are also automatically eligible for scholarships.

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA)

Designed for students aged 3 through grade 12 (or age 22, whichever comes first) with specific diagnoses, the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) provides an average of \$10,000 in scholarship funds. This scholarship allows families to customize their child's education through an education savings account (ESA), which can be used for private school tuition, homeschooling options, therapies, tutoring, curriculum, technology, and even college savings.

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To qualify for the FES-UA program, students must have a qualifying disability, as determined by an official diagnosis from a doctor or psychologist. The range of qualifying unique abilities is broad, including autism, language impairment, specific learning disabilities (such as dyslexia), high-risk conditions, and rare diseases.

New Worlds Scholarship Accounts (NWSA)

The New Worlds Scholarship Accounts (NWSA) program supports struggling VPK and K-5 public school students in reading and/or math. This scholarship provides an education savings account (ESA) that can be used for tutoring, after-school/summer programs, instructional materials, and curriculum. The scholarship award amount varies based on the school year.

Personalized Education Program (PEP) Scholarship

The Personalized Education Program (PEP) provides K-12 Florida students who are not enrolled in public school or a Florida Home Education Program with an average of \$8,000 through an education savings account (ESA). These funds can be used for tuition and fees, homeschooling, tutoring, and instructional materials.

Transportation Stipend

To help families with transportation costs to a public school other than their assigned one, a transportation stipend of \$750 per household is available for K-8 students. Priority is given to students from households earning up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and to children in foster or out-of-home care, with secondary priority given to families earning up to 400% of the FPL.

Understanding Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)

A key component of several Family Empowerment Scholarship programs is the Education Savings Account (ESA). With an ESA, parents receive a deposit of public funds into government-authorized savings accounts with restricted, but multiple, uses. These funds can be used for various educational expenses, including:

Private school tuition and fees
Online learning programs
Private tutoring
Community college costs
Higher education expenses
Approved customized learning services and materials

Gemm Learning: An Approved Provider

Gemm Learning is an approved provider in Florida, offering programs that can be fully funded under the FES-UA program. Gemm Learning utilizes Fast ForWord software to build essential language processing and pre-reading skills, followed by reading comprehension.

Historical Context: Evolution of Florida's Education Scholarships

Florida's commitment to providing scholarships for students from low- and middle-income households began in 2001 with the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC). This program provided tax credits for businesses that contributed to non-profit organizations offering scholarships to students with limited financial resources. In 2011, Governor DeSantis created the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) program, which is still in effect today. The McKay and Gardner Scholarships have been integrated into the FES program.

Funding Mechanisms: FTC vs. FES

A significant difference between the FTC and FES programs lies in their funding sources. FTC scholarships are funded by private organizations in exchange for tax breaks, while FES scholarships are funded by Florida's general revenue fund.

Scholarship Renewal: Ensuring Continuity

Students approved for FES do not need to reapply each year. Eligibility is verified by Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFOs), and renewals are sent directly to the student's school for each new school year.

Key Legislative Changes for 2025-2026

It's important to stay informed about legislative updates that may impact scholarship programs. Key legislative changes are underway for the New Worlds Scholarship Accounts Program for 2025-2026, so it's crucial to view the latest updates to understand the potential impact.

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Florida Statute 1002.394: The Legal Framework

Florida Statute 1002.394 outlines the legal framework for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. Key definitions within the statute include:

Approved Provider: A provider approved by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, a health care practitioner, or a provider approved by the Department of Education.
Disability: A comprehensive definition encompassing various conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, speech impairment, language impairment, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, emotional or behavioral disabilities, specific learning disabilities (including dyslexia and dyscalculia), and other specified conditions.
Parent: A resident of Florida who is a parent, as defined in s. 1000.21.

Scholarship Eligibility Criteria (F.S. 1002.394(3))

To be eligible for a Family Empowerment Scholarship, students must meet certain criteria:

Residency in Florida or being a dependent child of an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces with permanent change of station orders to Florida.
Eligibility to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in a Florida public school or having received a scholarship under the Hope Scholarship Program in the 2023-2024 school year.

Priority is given to students whose household income level does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who are in foster care or out-of-home care.

For students with disabilities, additional criteria apply:

Being 3 or 4 years of age during the year of application or eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12.
Having a disability as defined in subsection (2) of F.S. 1002.394.
Being the subject of an IEP or having received a diagnosis of a disability from a licensed physician or psychologist.

Authorized Uses of Program Funds (F.S. 1002.394(4))

Program funds can be used for a variety of educational expenses, depending on the specific scholarship program:

For students eligible under paragraph (3)(a): Tuition and fees at an eligible private school, instructional materials, curriculum, tuition and fees for postsecondary enrollment, fees for assessments, contracted services from a public school, and tutoring services.
For students with disabilities eligible under paragraph (3)(b): Instructional materials (including digital devices and assistive technology), curriculum, specialized services by approved providers, tuition and fees for various educational programs (including home education, private school, postsecondary enrollment), contributions to college savings programs, contracted services from a public school, tutoring services, specialized summer and after-school programs, transition services provided by job coaches, and fees for annual evaluations.

Scholarship Prohibitions (F.S. 1002.394(5))

A student is not eligible for a Family Empowerment Scholarship while:

Enrolled in a public school.
Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of providing educational services to youth in a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program.
Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to this chapter.
Participating in a home education program.
Participating in a private tutoring program.
Participating in a virtual school, correspondence school, or distance learning program that receives state funding.

Applying for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program

Applications for Floridaâs Family Empowerment Scholarship Program can be submitted directly through approved Scholarship Funding Organizations:

AAA Scholarship Foundation
Step Up for Students

Step Up for Students handles applications for the FES-UA program. If your child doesnât have a unique ability and you want to apply for a scholarship through the FES-EO program, you can apply through the AAA Scholarship Foundation directly.

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