The Foundation for Florida’s Future responds to final passage of HB 1403

“We applaud the continued expansion of parental choice options this year, building on 2023’s progress when Florida passed the nation’s largest universal school choice program. More than 400,000 students are already participating across the four main scholarship programs.

“This legislation will immediately expand scholarships under the Family Empowerment Scholarship for students with Unique Abilities program and open new opportunities for military families to access Florida’s suite of scholarship programs.

“We deeply appreciate the legislature’s commitment to listening to parents and reflecting their desires by amending and improving the bill prior to final passage, removing previous language that would have restricted certain instructional material options for families.  

“As Florida’s parental choice landscape continues to expand, we look forward to working with Gov. DeSantis, the legislature and the Department of Education to ensure Florida remains the national leader in parental choice. 

“We thank Rep. Josie Tomkow and Sen. Corey Simon for championing this legislation.”

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House Bill 1403:

• Merges the Hope Scholarship program, which supports families in finding a safe academic environment, and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program; 
• Extends the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities to up to 21,000 additional families—serving 71,000 families in total—by increasing the scholarship’s annual funding cap growth from 3% to 5%, with the opportunity to unlock an additional 1% growth each year; 
• Expands the allowable use of funds for Unique Abilities students to participate in a pre-kindergarten program offered by an eligible private school; 
• Requires the Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida to establish a purchasing guideline for recipients of the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities; 
• Prescribes specified application windows and timelines for families to accept or decline scholarships; 
• Specifies timelines for Scholarship Funding Organizations to release payments for full-time private school to within seven business days of parent and school approval; 
• Ensures public school students receiving a New Worlds Reading Scholarship can access existing transportation scholarships; and 
• Creates a new pathway under the Personalized Education Program for students seeking to use a scholarship under the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities program, specifying that regular and direct contact can be satisfied by having in-person contact with teachers at a private school at least two days per week.