Bill > S1440

This bill modifies Florida's educational choice programs, specifically the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The bill requires school districts to use professional evaluation reports to complete service matrices for nonpublic school students without individual education plans (IEPs), and introduces a new definition for a "home education instructional program" as a business entity offering supplemental classes and activities for home-schooled students. The bill expands the use of scholarship funds to include digital devices and peripheral equipment, and establishes more specific requirements for home education instructional programs, such as having publicly available course descriptions and published fee schedules. Additionally, the bill revises scholarship application and renewal timelines, with new application periods beginning February 1 and ending April 30 or June 30 for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. The bill also clarifies that parents are responsible for customizing their home education instructional programs and updates the payment schedule for scholarships to include specific disbursement dates throughout the school year. These changes aim to provide more flexibility and support for families participating in educational choice programs in Florida, with the modifications set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1440