Kathleen C. Wright (KCW) Administration Center
600 S.E. Third Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (754) 321-0000
The Hope Scholarship is for students in grades kindergarten through 12 who are enrolled in a Florida public school and have been subjected to an incident of battery; harassment; hazing; bullying; kidnapping; simple battery; robbery; sexual offenses, sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual battery; threat or intimidation; or fighting at school to have the opportunity to transfer to another public school with capacity or to receive a scholarship to enroll in an approved private school. Incidents reported may be investigated at the district level, however, there does not have to be substantiation on the part of the district to offer a transfer to another public school with capacity or the ability for the student to move to an eligible private school on scholarship.
HOW TO APPLY
- Report alleged qualifying incident to the school Principal/Administrator during the same school year it occurred – school will complete an investigation within 15 school days
- Obtain a signed Hope Scholarship Initial Notification Form from the school Principal/Administrator – form provided by school within 24 hours of reporting alleged qualifying incident
- Apply for a Hope Scholarship educational opportunity within 15 days
TRANSFER TO ANOTHER BCPS SCHOOL
Only select schools with available space are available
- Email the complete Hope Scholarship Initial Notification form (2 pages) to SchoolChoice@browardschools.com
- The Office of School Choice will provide a BCPS Hope Scholarship Application
- Email the completed BCPS Hope Scholarship Application to SchoolChoice@browardschools.com for processing
Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES)
The Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) program is a state of Florida school choice program that provides the following educational opportunities to families of students with disabilities or students of families with limited financial resources:
FES – UNIQUE ABILITIES (FORMERLY MCKAY SCHOLARSHIP)
FES – EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS
Provides students of families with limited financial resources with the following options:
- Private school scholarship option
Provides funding to attend a participating private school
- Transportation scholarship option
Provides funding to attend a different public school, other than the students assigned home boundary school
Visit the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Family Empowerment Scholarship Program website to learn more.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
FES – UNIQUE ABILITIES
- Student is a Florida resident
- Student is 3 or 4 years old or eligible to enroll in a Florida public school grades K-12
- Student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or has a diagnosis of a disability from a licensed physician or psychologist
Visit the FLDOE Family Empower Scholarship Unique Abilities FAQs website to learn more.
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FES – EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS
- Student is a Florida resident
- Student is eligible to enroll in a Florida public school grades K-12
- Priority given to students whose household income level does not exceed 185% of the federal poverty level or is in foster care or out-of-home care, then to students whose household income level exceeds 185% of the federal poverty level, but does not exceed 400%.
Visit the FLDOE Family Empower Scholarship Education Options FAQs website to learn more.
HOW TO APPLY
FES – UNIQUE ABILITIES
- Meet all FES – Unique Abilities application requirements
- Select an FES – Unique Abilities option
BCPS PUBLIC SCHOOL OPTION
- Contact the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) department to apply
Website: https://www.browardschools.com/Page/47349
Phone: 754-321-3400 (option 2)
Email: fes-ua@browardschools.com
Include the following student information:
Student’s full name (legal first & last name)
Student’s date of birth
Student’s BCPS number – 06xxxxxxxx (10 digits)
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PRIVATE SCHOOL / EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT (ESA) OPTION
- Find an eligible non-profit scholarship funding organization (SFO) to apply – SFOs determine student eligibility & issue scholarship funds
- Complete an application through an eligible SFO
Visit the FLDOE Family Empower Scholarship Unique Abilities FAQs website to learn more.
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FES – EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS
- Meet all FES – Educational Options application requirements
- Select an FES – Education option
o Private school scholarship
o Transportation scholarship
- Find an eligible non-profit scholarship funding organization (SFO) to apply – SFOs determine student eligibility & issue scholarship funds
- Complete an application through an eligible SFO
Visit the FLDOE Family Empower Scholarship Education Options FAQs website to learn more.
TRANSPORTATION
FES – Unique Abilities BCPS bus transportation is determined by Transportation Services and the Exceptional Student Education department, based on the student’s address.
- Student lives more than 2 miles from the school
directions_bus Bus transportation provided
- Student lives 2 miles or less from the school
no_transfer No bus transportation provided
