Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship was launched in 2019 to help relieve pressure on the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program waitlist while simultaneously expanding school choice options for low- and middle-income families looking to put their children on the path to academic success. It may be the fifth school choice program enacted in Florida (and the second operating voucher program), but it will undoubtedly be the first choice for families that qualify. In this article, we’ll tell you all about the Family Empowerment Scholarship, including eligibility, funding, regulations, and more. The Family Empowerment Scholarship may be just what your family needs to enroll in a Clearwater, FL, Christian school.
Before we break into the particulars of the Family Empowerment Scholarship, let’s cover a few “fast facts” to help you understand the scope of this program. As we mentioned above, it is Florida’s second operating voucher program. It’s estimated that 54 percent of families are income-eligible across the Sunshine State. The maximum value for one of these vouchers is $7,122, which equals 95 percent of the value of public school per-student spending or the cost of private school tuition and fees (whichever is less). Payments are transferred from the state’s general revenue fund to parents every quarter.
Initial eligibility is predicated on whether or not a student is already certified to receive food assistance, Florida Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, or qualifies for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). Families with a combined income not exceeding 300 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $77,250 for a family of four, also qualify. Children in foster care are also eligible for this scholarship.
In addition to the above requirements, students must be enrolled in a Florida public school the year before they can become eligible, unless their parents are members of the Armed Forces who have recently relocated to Florida due to orders from the military. Keep in mind that charter schools and state-funded virtual schools do not meet this requirement.
Although 54 percent of families qualify, priority is afforded to students coming from families with a household income not exceeding 185 percent of FPL (currently calculated at $47,638). Once a student becomes a recipient of a Family Empowerment Scholarship, their eligibility is locked in until they graduate or hit the age of 21 years old. Even if the family’s income level has improved, they will retain eligibility. This eligibility also extends to siblings of the recipient. For now, the program will provide scholarships to 18,000 students, but this number is expected to increase by approximately 7,000 each year, allowing more and more students to experience the benefits of attending a Clearwater, FL, Christian school.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the best Christian schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
The time your child spends in elementary school, especially in grades K-2, is crucial for their growth. It’s during this time that children develop many of the habits that lead to either success or frustration in middle and high school. In this article, we explore three important ways that parents and teachers can foster a child’s development. These are just some considerations to keep in mind when searching for an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL.
Your child is doing some serious growing in these early years, both mentally and physically. It’s your duty as a parent to make sure that your child is ready to face the challenges and lessons of school. Be sure that your child is going to bed early and getting plenty of sleep. Generally, your little one should be getting 10-12 hours of sleep each night. Have a nutritious breakfast and packed lunch ready for them in the morning to ensure they have enough energy to focus on their school work throughout the day.
By becoming a strong reader, your child can discover a healthy hobby and ignite a passion for learning that can last the rest of their life. It is perhaps the most important skill that your child can acquire, as evidenced by a study published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “The ability to read by third grade is critical to a child’s success in school, life-long earning potential and their ability to contribute to the nation’s economy and its security.” At Lakeside Christian School, one of the best private elementary schools in Clearwater, FL, in addition to providing regular literature lessons, we help our students develop their reading ability and habits by giving extra credit to students who turn in a summer reading log.
Although a student’s surroundings, family, and upbringing all play critical roles in their development, teachers remain “the most important factor contributing to student achievement.” Elementary school teachers are among the first role models our children emulate. It’s from them that students learn some of their first and most important lessons in life, which is why all of our professional education staff members meet or exceed the qualifications required by our accreditation agencies. Our team of effective educators strives to give each student the attention and guidance they need — a goal they accomplish with data-driven instruction and small class sizes. If you are interested in how our teachers deliver on our mission to provide every child with a high-quality education, schedule a tour and see why Lakeside Christian School is one of the best private elementary schools in Clearwater, FL.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
Step Up For Students, the state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization, is dedicated to providing students with more opportunities to succeed in education by administering four scholarships: the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship Program (for low-income families), the Gardiner Scholarship (for special needs children), the Hope Scholarship (for victims of bullying), and the Reading Scholarship (for students who struggle with reading).
These scholarships have helped countless students achieve their dreams, but the eligibility requirements for each scholarship are unique. If you are applying for Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL, read this article to learn about some of the students who have benefitted from this gracious, state-approved program in the past.
The FTC Scholarship provides funding for low-income families who require financial assistance to enroll their children in a private school. With over 680,000 FTC Scholarships awarded to children grades kindergarten through 12th since 2002, this Step Up for Students Scholarship has made an indelible impression on Florida’s private school system.
In the case of three adopted siblings from Florida — Diego, Alyssa, and Bianca — the FTC Scholarship helped lead them from the darkest time in their young lives to a brighter, happier tomorrow. With a father who was always gone and a mother who was addicted to drugs, the three children struggled to survive until they were adopted by foster mom, Patricia Sobel. Sobel applied for the FTC Scholarship to help send the adopted children to a private school. Today, the children are happy to be in school learning about the world and making new friends.
Parents who have children with unique abilities or special needs can apply for the Gardiner Scholarship. This scholarship allows parents to provide their children with individualized educational plans designed to better serve their needs.
Take, for example, the story of Nicolas Ratliff-Batista, a senior at Monsignor Pace High School in Miami Gardens. Nicholas was diagnosed with high-functioning autism when he was only 3 years old. Although Nicolas deftly traversed elementary school and middle school, thanks in part to the familiarity of the setting, classmates, teachers, and administrators, his mother feared that high school would prove to be a much greater challenge.
The Gardiner Scholarship allowed Nicolas to find a school where he was primed for success, learning in small classroom settings with an average teacher-to-student ratio of 1:14. After graduating, he will pursue a degree in environmental science at Broward College.
If you would like to learn more about Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
Are you ready to join the Lakeside Christian School community? Contact us, and schedule a tour today.
Parents of Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan, Click Here.