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Girl in Class

SCHOLARSHIPS

Family Empowerment Scholarship (formerly Gardiner Scholarship)

The Family Empowerment Scholarship allows for parents to personalize the education of their children with unique abilities by directing money toward a combination of programs and approved providers, including schools.

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This scholarship is for Florida students K-12 grade or age 22, whichever comes first, with one of the following diagnoses:​

  • Anaphylaxis

  • Autism spectrum disorder

  • Being a high-risk child

  • Cerebral Palsy

  • Down syndrome

  • Emotional or a behavioral disability

  • Hearing impairment, including deafness

  • Hospital or homebound

  • Identification as dual sensory impaired

  • Intellectual disability

  • Language impairment

  • Muscular dystrophy

  • Orthopedic impairment

  • Other health impairment

  • Phelan-McDermid syndrome

  • Prader-Willi syndrome

  • Rare diseases

  • Specific learning disability

  • Speech impairment

  • Spina bifida

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Visual impairment, including blindness

  • Williams syndrome

McKay Scholarship

The McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program provides scholarships for eligible students with disabilities to attend an eligible public or private school of their choice. Students with disabilities include K-12 students who are documented as having an intellectual disability; a speech or language impairment; a hearing impairment, including deafness; a visual impairment, including blindness; a dual sensory impairment; an orthopedic impairment, an other health impairment, an emotional or behavioral disability; a specific learning disability, including, but not limited to, dyslexia, dyscalculia, or developmental aphasia; a traumatic brain injury; a developmental delay; or autism spectrum disorder.

Step Up for Students Scholarship

The Step Up for Students Scholarship, also known as the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, is funding collected from Florida corporations as a tax break.

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The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship private school option can be used towards the following fees, in this order, until all fees are covered OR the student’s maximum scholarship award amount is reached, whichever is less.

1. Tuition
2. Books**
3. Registration
4. Transportation
5. Uniforms**
6. Testing
7. Other
** Applicable for books and uniforms sold by the school, not a third-party vendor.

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Income Eligibility:

  • If a member of the household receives SNAP (food stamps), TANF, or FDPIR, the student may qualify.

  • If the household income qualifies for free or reduce-priced lunch, the student may qualify.

  • If the household income is at or below the income criteria, the student may qualify. (EXAMPLE) For a family of four: The Family Empowerment Scholarship income level will serve students in households at $99,375 or below. Priority will be given to students whose incomes are below $48,470.

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Students who attended an eligible, participating private school and received funding for at least one day during the previous academic year, remain eligible for a Florida Tax Credit Scholarship regardless of the household income until they graduate high school or turn 21.

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Please note: Applications are processed in the order they are received, including all supporting documentation. Scholarships are awarded with a priority given to renewal families followed by new families with the greatest financial need.

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