Interactive Florida P.R.I.D.E Handbook

• Welcome
• Parent Agreement
• Loss Of A Scholarship Policy
• Scholarship Distribution Priority
• Renewal K- 12 Scholarship Eligibility (Renewals only ~ not Add-on or New)
• New K- 12 Scholarship Eligibility (Add-ons and New only ~ not Renewals)
• Household Income Levels For Scholarship Eligibility
• Failure To Meet Requirements for Renewal Policy
• Scholarship Recipients Policy
• Scholarship Funding Amounts Policy
• Scholarship Funding Restrictions Policy
• Student Behavior Policy
• Attendance Policy
• Scholarship Check Process
• Parental Tuition Policy
• Scholarship Check Cashing Policy
• Scholarship Procedures
• Change of Contact Information Procedure
• Student Transfer Procedure
• Scholarship “Hold” Status Policy

Florida P.R.I.D.E. Corporate Income Tax Credit (CTC) Scholarship Program Policies and Procedures

Florida Parental Rights in Deciding Education (Florida P.R.I.D.E.), a private foundation and FLA-SFO member, awards annual CTC Scholarships to eligible students entering Kindergarten (K) through 12th grade from eligible households to help them attend an eligible private school or the out-of-district (out-of-county) public school of their choice. The scholarships are for tuition and books (private schools) or public transportation (out-of district public schools).

Florida P.R.I.D.E. scholarships ARE NOT TUITION VOUCHERS.  Tuition vouchers are government-funded and the payments come from the State of Florida.  CTC Scholarships are privately funded. The payments for students receiving CTC Scholarships come from the SFO that serves their county.

DO NOT enroll your child into a private school until you have actually received a SCHOLARSHIP AWARD LETTER and School Commitment Form (SCF)! Funding is not guaranteed. If you enroll your child before receipt of a SCF, you will be responsible for their tuition and may not qualify for future scholarship funding. 

Please remember that in applying and if accepting a Florida P.R.I.D.E. scholarship you have agreed on the application to the below statements in the Certification Signature Section.

• I certify that the information provided on this application and all supporting documentation is true, correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that if I give information that is not true or if I withhold information and my children receive a scholarship for which they are not eligible, I can be lawfully punished for fraud and will result in the scholarship being denied or revoked.
• In applying for a scholarship, I agree to abide by and accept the determination of eligibility made by PSAS and Florida P.R.I.D.E.
• I understand the information I provide will be verified, which may include computer file matching, public records search, IRS transcripts and that I may be required to provide other information.
• I authorize the release of personal, financial and educational information for the purpose of determining eligibility and for research.
• I understand that Florida P.R.I.D.E does not discriminate because of race, color, sex, age, disability, religion, nationality or political belief.
• I authorize PSAS and Florida P.R.I.D.E to make this form and the information therein available to the appropriate state agencies as required by the law governing the scholarships. I authorize this form and all attachments to be returned to Florida P.R.I.D.E.
• I agree to follow the rules and responsibilities as they apply to the program as set forth in the Parent Handbook (This handbook).
• I understand that my child(ren) must take an approved nationally recognized standardized test.
• I understand that if I am deemed eligible and am awarded a scholarship for 2007/2008, that I am not automatically entitled to a scholarship in following years.
• I understand that it is my responsibility to reapply and document my eligibility each year if I accept a scholarship.
• DO NOT enroll your child into a private school until you have actually received a SCHOLARSHIP AWARD LETTER and School Commitment Form (SCF)! Funding is not guaranteed. I understand if I enroll my child before receipt of a SCF, I will be responsible for their tuition and may not qualify for future scholarship funding.

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Loss Of A Scholarship Policy

A household will lose their scholarship for any of the following:

1. Providing fraudulent information or withholding information on the application (Details)
2. Enrolling the student in a school that is not eligible (Details)
3. The student being expelled from the school (Details)
4. The student not maintaining a 90% attendance record (Details)
5. Not endorsing scholarship payments within 5 working days of being notified by the school or within the time specified by school policy, whichever is less (Details)
6. The household owing a school money or not maintaining an agreed upon payment schedule (Details)
7. Not completing the renewal process by the deadline (Details)
8. Exceeding the household income eligibility guidelines (Details)
9. Failing to complete internal audit process, if required
10. Otherwise violating the conditions of the scholarship program

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Scholarship Distribution Priority

First Priority:  Households that received a 2006/2007 CTC scholarship (and eligible siblings) which meet 2007/2008 eligibility criteria and meet all deadlines for renewal priority
Second Priority:  Households currently approved but on a waiting list due to lack of funding which meet 2007/2008 eligibility criteria; funding is not guaranteed
Third Priority:  New household applicants which meet 2007/2008 eligibility criteria; awarded on a first completed, first awarded basis; funding is not guaranteed

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Renewal K- 12 Scholarship Eligibility (Renewals only ~ not Add-on or New)

To be eligible for a renewal scholarship the household:

1. Must complete the renewal application and mail it along with ALL required supporting documentation listed on the application to the designated processing company BY THE STATED DEADLINE.  Failure to apply each year and meet all deadline requirements will result in the household losing their renewal priority and may result in the household not receiving a scholarship even if they eventually document their eligibility.
2. Must document that the household income qualifies for 200% of Federal Poverty Level.
3. Must have take an approved nationally recognized standardized test, for students in 3rd through 10th grades
4. Must have been actively using their CTC scholarship for the prior school year.
5. Must be free of debt to the 2006/2007 private school for the prior school year.
6. Must not have been disqualified from the program for any reason, including internal audit process.

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New K- 12 Scholarship Eligibility (Add-ons and New only ~ not Renewals)

To be eligible for a new scholarship (sibling add-ons or new applicants):

1. The household must complete the scholarship application and mail it along with ALL required supporting documentation listed on the application to the designated processing company.
2. The household must document that the household income qualifies for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program (185% of Federal Poverty Level).  The household does not have to be participating in the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program, but their income must qualify for it.
3. The student(s) must be 5 years old on or before September 1st, by law. 
4. The student(s) must be:
   • entering Kindergarten or 1st grade. Public school attendance is not required for students entering K and 1st grades
     OR
   • entering 2nd –12th grade and have attended a Florida public school for the entire prior school year, by law.  By law, new students who have been attending a private school if entering 2nd grade or higher are not eligible to participate
5. The household must not have been disqualified from the program for any reason, including internal audit process.

The Scholarship may be renewed every year through 12th grade as long as the household and student(s) continue to meet the conditions of eligibility.

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Household Income Levels For Scholarship Eligibility

The income eligibility changes each year and is based on the Federal Poverty Level Guidelines.

SFOs must and will verify the household’s income eligibility each year through the renewal application process conducted by the processing company. Completing this process is the responsibility of the parent, not the school.

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Failure To Meet Requirements for Renewal Policy

If a household is deemed eligible and awarded a scholarship, that household is not automatically entitled to a scholarship in following years.  Household’s that wish to renew must document each year that they meet current renewal guidelines.

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Scholarship Recipients Policy

Florida P.R.I.D.E. does not award scholarships to schools. Scholarships are awarded to eligible households.  Payments will be sent to the school and will require the specified parent/guardian endorsement (Parent/Guardian A on the application) before the school can deposit the payment.

The household decides which eligible private school to send their student(s) to.  Failure to enroll your student in an eligible private school will result in the loss of the Florida P.R.I.D.E. scholarship. It is the responsibility of the household to determine if the chosen school is meeting their student(s) needs; if the school is not meeting their needs they may transfer their student at any time during the school year or for the next school year if deemed eligible to renew.  The scholarship follows the student(s) as long as the household is eligible.  Eligible schools are determined by the Florida Department of Education (DOE) and are listed online at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/ under Corporate Tax Credit Scholarships.  

For information on changing schools during the year see the “Student Transfer Procedure” on page 7.

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Scholarship Funding Amounts Policy

The maximum amount of a Florida P.R.I.D.E. Scholarship to attend a private school is $3750, or the cost of tuition and books; whichever is less, per student, per year. (see example below)
The maximum Florida P.R.I.D.E. Scholarship to attend an out-of-district public school is $500 to aid with public transportation.

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Scholarship Funding Restrictions Policy

The fees that can be included in the $3750 limit are those for tuition and books only.  Books cannot total more than 25% of the scholarship, by law. Thus, for example, if a school had the following tuition and fees:
Tuition               2800.
+  Books             300.
Total                 3100.
The Florida P.R.I.D.E. Scholarship would pay $3100, because the full amount is under the limit and the amount for school provided books ($300) is not more than 25% of the tuition.

Schools may not charge a different rate for the Florida P.R.I.D.E. Scholarship students.  The same tuition schedule must apply to all students enrolled whether they are on Florida P.R.I.D.E. Scholarships, McKay Scholarships or their parents are paying for their tuition.

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Student Behavior Policy

Scholarship students must follow all academic and discipline policies of the individual private school; schools are free to expel or suspend students if their policies are not followed. We do not set or get involved with any school policies regarding the admission or retention of students. 

If a student is expelled from school, he or she will lose the scholarship, with no option to renew. This will not affect the scholarships of any siblings.

Students expelled from public school are not eligible for a scholarship. 

Scholarship students assigned by the courts to the juvenile justice system will immediately lose their scholarship for the current school year.  These students will not be considered for a scholarship without re-establishing their eligibility by attending a Florida public school for the full year prior to applying.

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Attendance Policy

Florida P.R.I.D.E. Scholarship students may not be absent more than 18 days during the 180-day school year.  Failure to be present for this minimum amount of time will result in the loss of the scholarship. 

If you plan to withdraw your student during the school year, please notify the school 2 weeks prior to withdrawal. 

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Scholarship Check Process

• Scholarship checks will be sent to the school.  The checks must be immediately stamped for deposit only into the school’s account and then endorsed by the specified parent/guardian (Parent/Guardian A on the application) on the check.  The scholarship checks may not leave the possession of the school.  Students are not able to bring scholarship checks home for parent endorsement (signature).
• Before each installment is paid, a verification report will be sent to the school, listing students’ name and scholarship payment amount, attendance and whether the household owes any monies to the current or exiting school.
• The school must verify the student information, complete all questions for each student, sign and date the verification report and return it to Florida P.R.I.D.E. by the stated deadline.  Schools must explain any “no” answers, in writing, on this report and/or attach documentation.  The “Family Tuition Form” and the “Student Attendance Form” are available here.
• Parent\Guardian A listed on the application will be on the check and MUST be the individual that endorses the scholarship check when received by the school.  ONLY the individual on the check can endorse the back of the check.  If a household needs the parent listed to be changed they must make a request to the SFO in writing to change the name to the other parent/guardian.
• NO POWER OF ATTORNEY OR OTHER TRANSFER OF SIGNATURE AUTHORITY IS ALLOWED BY LAW. 

Failure of the designated parent to sign the check within 5 business days of being notified by the school or within the time specified by school policy, whichever is less, may result in the loss of the scholarship.

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Parental Tuition Policy

Parental tuition payments are necessary when an eligible private school’s tuition amount is more than the maximum scholarship amount allowed by law of $3750.

• If the tuition charged by the school exceeds the $3750 amount of the scholarship, the household is responsible for the additional charges.  At times the school may award a supplemental scholarship to the household, but if this does not occur, the difference is the sole responsibility of the household.  NO EXCEPTIONS.
• All households must remain current with their payments to the school for any fees owed by the household, not including the scholarship payments.  Failure to pay, or make arrangements to pay, a balance owed may result in the school suspending or expelling your student.  If the student is expelled they will no longer be eligible for the scholarship.  Florida P.R.I.D.E. will not renew or transfer scholarships while money is owed to the school.
• A scholarship can be transferred to any eligible private school in the state of Florida as long as household eligibility is maintained. 

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Scholarship Check Cashing Policy

Schools must process and deposit the checks for scholarship students promptly.  Schools should immediately stamp the checks with “For Deposit Only” and their bank account number upon receipt before the individual endorses it. 

The scholarship checks may not leave the possession of the school.  Students are not able to bring scholarship checks home for parent endorsement (signature).

Failure by the school to follow these procedures will result in loss of eligibility as a participating school for the Florida P.R.I.D.E. Scholarship program, legal ramifications with the state attorney’s office, and reimbursement in full of any overpaid monies due to Florida P.R.I.D.E.  Student withdrawal may result in the school being required to reimburse Florida P.R.I.D.E. for the difference between actual weeks attended and actual scholarship funds received to date.  For information on changing schools during the year see the “Student Transfer Procedure” on page 7.  Florida P.R.I.D.E. only pays for services rendered.

This policy will be included with each check disbursement as a reminder to schools.

The statute that created the CTC scholarship also established procedures on how the scholarships are to be paid.  The law makes it clear that the scholarship is going to the household, not the school.  Florida P.R.I.D.E. is not paying the tuition to a school.  The parents are paying their student’s tuition to a school with our help.  The purpose of this statement is to make sure that schools understand and treat the tuition payments as the law directs.

Printed here is the text of the statute, followed by our comments:

“Upon receipt of a scholarship warrant, the parent to whom the warrant is made must restrictively endorse the warrant to the private school for deposit into the account of the private school. The parent may not designate any entity or individual associated with the participating private school as the parent's attorney in fact to endorse a scholarship warrant. A participant who fails to comply with this paragraph forfeits the scholarship.”

In the weeks prior to a distribution, the school must verify the student information, complete all questions for each student, sign and date the verification report and return it to Florida P.R.I.D.E. by the stated deadline.  Schools must explain any “no” answers on this report.   
We provide a check for each approved Florida P.R.I.D.E. Scholarship student at each school.  There is a separate check for each student, even if they are from the same household. 
The scholarship is paid in installments, each year the approximate dates will be sent to the schools. 
The school should immediately stamp/write the first three of the following lines on each check upon receipt of the checks.  Then notify the households that their check has arrived and have them come in to “restrictively endorse” them over to the school.  The back of the check should read:
For Deposit Only
(Name of School’s Bank)
Into the account of (Name of School/Account Number)
Parent Signature

The endorsement should be written on the back of the check in the proper area. The appropriate individual must endorse below the statement.  By law, use of Power of Attorney will result in forfeiture of the scholarship.

By law Florida P.R.I.D.E. students may not also receive McKay or other CTC scholarships. If any student receiving a scholarship from Florida P.R.I.D.E. also receives a scholarship from another SFO or a McKay Scholarship the school/guardian must contact us and the school must return the un-cashed check to Florida P.R.I.D.E. immediately.  Failure to report such situations to us may result in a school’s loss of eligibility to enroll new scholarship students and legal ramifications with the State Attorney’s Office.

If a school receives a check for a student who is not currently attending their school they must return the un-cashed check to Florida P.R.I.D.E. immediately, unless it is the final payment as determined by Florida P.R.I.D.E.  If the student has expenses over and above tuition for actual attendance at their school before the receipt of this check, it is the household’s responsibility to pay the debt.  The school may not deposit the check.  If pro-rated monies are owed to the school a check will be issued following receipt of the student Exit Confirmation Form. 

Failure to return the checks to us in these situations could lead to loss of eligibility as a participating school in the CTC scholarship program and/or legal ramifications relating to the scholarship laws.

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Scholarship Procedures

Only households that are eligible AND have received funding for the upcoming school year will receive a School Commitment Form.   Households that document eligibility and are placed on the waitlist do not have a scholarship unless they receive a School Commitment Form at a later date.  Families should make a copy of the SCF prior to taking it to the eligible school.

Schools should not accept any students without the School Commitment Form unless the household is willing to self pay their tuition if they are not funded and are aware that enrolling in the private school may result in the student not being eligible in future years. For New Scholarship Students: the school district to which the student is assigned must be notified that your student will be participating in the CTC program upon acceptance of the scholarship.

All households must complete the renewal process before the stated deadline in order to be considered for the following school year.  Eligibility must be re-established yearly in order to keep the scholarship.  Failure by a household to meet all deadlines will result in the loss of eligibility and cannot be appealed.

The use of a scholarship cannot be postponed.  You must find an eligible private school for your student as soon as you receive your scholarship award letter and School Commitment Form.  Failure to meet the deadline stated on the SCF will result in the forfeiture of the awarded scholarship.

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Change of Contact Information Procedure

If there is a change of address, telephone, cell phone or E-mail address, parents must immediately notify Florida P.R.I.D.E.  You must notify Florida P.R.I.D.E. if you are moving regardless of whether it is within the area or outside the area you currently reside in.  Your scholarship can be transferred to any eligible private school in the state of Florida as long as eligibility is maintained.  Failure to inform Florida P.R.I.D.E. of your current address may result in you not receiving all communication from Florida P.R.I.D.E. and may result in the loss of your scholarship. It is very important that Florida P.R.I.D.E. be able to reach you!   Reach us at info@floridapride.org or 866-794-9095.

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Student Transfer Procedure

One of the benefits of private education is that if you are not satisfied with a school you may choose another one.
You may transfer your student’s scholarship at any time.  Florida P.R.I.D.E. will not renew or transfer scholarships while money is owed to the previous school.

How to transfer a scholarship during the school year:

• The school the student is leaving must complete an Exit Confirmation Form and return it to Florida P.R.I.D.E. within 5 business days of being notified that the student is leaving. Florida P.R.I.D.E. will not transfer a scholarship until the school confirms that the household has no outstanding balance owed or a payment schedule is in place.
• The new school must fill out a School Commitment Form for each student and send it to Florida P.R.I.D.E.

Florida P.R.I.D.E. will complete the transfer process when both documents have been received.  This process may include a final payment to the school that is being exited, which must be signed by the appropriate individual following the check cashing policy, or a request for refund of over payment for the student transferring. 

How to transfer a scholarship at the end of the school year.

• The household must complete the renewal process and document eligibility.
• Upon receipt of the School Commitment Form the household must take it to the eligible private school of their choice; be it the same as the previous year or another eligible school.
• The school must complete and sign the form then send it to Florida P.R.I.D.E.

If at any time while utilizing the scholarship a student returns to public school the student will lose their scholarship and, by law, will not be eligible to apply for another scholarship until they meet all the eligibility criteria including attendance at a Florida public school for the entire previous school year if entering 2nd grade or higher.

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Scholarship “Hold” Status Policy

A scholarship may be put on hold if your student is temporarily unable to attend school on a case-by-case basis.   The parent must notify Florida P.R.I.D.E. within 5 business days of withdrawal from their current private school that they wish to have their scholarship placed on “hold” including detailed documentation as to why they are unable to attend.
While the scholarship is on hold, your student’s scholarship payments will not be made. When he or she returns to the private school (when the problem is resolved) the scholarship will resume.  In a penalty situation, the parent may be responsible for payment to the school during the “Hold” period.

The "Hold" status will not exceed 30 days. After that, the scholarship will be terminated and payments will be made to the school for services rendered.

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Florida Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship
2007-2008 Parent Policies and Procedures Handbook
© 2007 Florida Association of Scholarship Funding Organizations