Florida Children’s Academy knows that you place a high value your child’s education. FCA has different payment options and plans to make private school a reality and more affordable for families. Students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP), may qualify for a McKay Scholarship or Gardiner (PLSA) Scholarship. To learn more about payment options, contact Florida Children’s Academy at 407-895-0801 or info@santiagoandfriends.com.
What is the McKay Scholarship?
The McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program, originally created in 1999, 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 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.
What is the award amount for a McKay Scholarship?
The amount of the scholarship is equal to the amount the student would have received in the public school to which the student is assigned or the amount of the private school’s tuition and fees, whichever is less. (Please note that the scholarship amount may not cover the full costs of private school. Parents are responsible for any tuition or fees above the scholarship amount.)
Calculations are made based on the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan and the services provided by the district. Based on the type and frequency of the services offered by the district, a matrix number is developed and used to determine the student’s funding level.
The funding amounts for the various matrix levels are set annually by the Florida state government, and may vary from year to year. The updated amounts for future school years are usually available at the beginning of July.
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