If you want to apply for the Mckay Scholarship Program, register for the McKay Scholarship Program. The remuneration is $5,500 to up to $22,000 a year.
The McKay Scholarship Program is part of the many selections under Florida’s school choice programs. These programs are designed to enable parents to select a suitable academic environment, whether private or public, regarding their child’s special demands.
Read on to learn more details about the scholarship program, including the eligibility criteria.
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The Mckay Scholarship Program
The McKay Scholarship is under Florida’s K12 scholarship programs. It is a state-funded program that gives students with disabilities who have an IEP or 504 plan the opportunity to attend a participating private school.
In addition to the private school choice, parents may also decide to register their kids in another public school in their home or neighboring district.
If you have a child with an impairment, the McKay Scholarship Program allows you to select a favorable learning environment for your child. The scholarship may even help to offset the costs of schooling until your child reaches 22 years of age.
Likewise, your disabled child may not be comfortable with their current public school. The McKay Scholarship will provide funds to assist you in transferring your child to another private or public school.
Mckay Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
For your child to be qualified to obtain a McKay Scholarship program, he or she must fulfill the following requirements, according to the Mckay Scholarship requirements.
- Have learning disabilities, autism spectrum syndrome, deaf, blind, dumb, traumatic brain damage, growth delay, etc.
- Possess a functional IEP or 504 plan that reports a disability.
- Be a current Florida public school student.
- Be not less than 5 years of age and not up to 22 years old by September 1 of the scholarship year.
- Have attended the Florida public school in the previous academic year and reported it in the October and February membership counts.
- Have been a preschooler reported to have obtained specialized instructional assistance from the early learning department.
However, note that if the student does not fulfill these requirements but has an IEP or 504 plan, they may still be qualified for the scholarship if:
- He or she is a foster child. You need to fill out the foster intent waiver request form.
- He or she is an emerging preschooler.
- He or she is a dependent kid of a member of the US. Army who changes to a Florida school from another state under a parent’s permanent transfer of station instructions.
Why Your Child May Not Be Eligible?
Please note that your child does not satisfy the eligibility requirements if he or she is:
- Registered in a juvenile justice commitment scheme.
- Registered in the Florida Academy for the Blind and the Deaf.
- Partaking in a homeschooling program.
- Not keeping steady and open contact with the private school tutors at the school’s physical district.
- Taking part in over two courses in each academic year in an online or distance learning program that gets state grants.
In addition, if your child has a “gifted only” nomination and an eligibility plan, he or she may not satisfy the eligibility criteria for the scholarship.
Mckay Parent Responsibilities
If you’re a parent selecting the private school choice of the scholarship, you are accountable for the following parental responsibilities:
- Documenting your pursuit of a scholarship program not less than 2 months before the date of the first payment.
- Bearing the expenses for your child if you would want him or her to join in state-wide inspections.
- Inspecting the scholarship pursuit and eligibility status.
- Understanding the scholarship award percentage for your student.
- Acknowledging and ensuring your child adheres to the private academy’s policy.
- Ensuring your child attends the participating private school all through the academic year unless for a special reason.
- Choosing a participating private academy for your child.
Read: Difference Between Scholarship and Stipend
How To Apply For Mckay Scholarship
Before you can apply for the Mckay scholarship program, you must have confirmed that your child has met the eligibility criteria. Then go to Florida School Choice to register.
The form would ask you for your child’s current school district, first and last name, date of birth, and whether they’re on an IEP or a 504 plan. Once the search engine has found your child, you will then enter your data to file yourself as the parent or guardian handling the scholarship.
Once you have completed the steps to filing intent for the scholarship, you will get an email from the school choice department verifying that you have successfully applied for the scholarship as well as validating your matrix.
Note: Ensure you have filed an intent to partake in the scholarship before removing your child from the public school. You also can follow the following video for the scholarship information.
McKay Scholarship Percentage Program
The Mckay scholarship percentage is proportional to the percentage your student would have received. This will happen if he or she had attended the public school allotted to them or the private academy you have selected.
You must also note that the scholarship program will not cover all private academies. Therefore, parents will take care of any payments that are beyond the scholarship percentage.
Furthermore, the scholarship will continue in effect until your child:
- Completed high school
- Gets to 22 years
- Goes back to a public school
Mckay Scholarship Payment Basics
Mckay scholarship payments are paid in four equal installments on specific dates as authorized by the policy. The dates include; September 1, November 1, February 1, and April 1. The child’s parent or guardian collects the payment through an individual check.
The fee is then dispatched by the Education office to the parent’s private school option, where it will be paid into the school’s account.
The Mckay Scholarship amount ranges from $5,500–$22,000 per year. However, this depends on your student’s diagnosed disability level as revealed by the Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Mckay Scholarship Percentage And Calendars
100% scholarship payment is given to those who applied by the 3rd of July and enrolled by the 2nd of August. 75% is available for those who complete their form by September 2nd and enrolled by October 2nd.
A 50% payment is given to those who complete their form by the 3rd of December and enroll by the 2nd of January to be eligible. 25% is available for those who complete their form by the 1st of February and enroll by the 2nd of March.
Note: If you miss the deadline, your child will not be eligible to get that quarter’s scholarship payments until the next quarter.
Conclusion
The Mckay Scholarship Program invests in the education of the disabled by providing financial assistance to parents of eligible children. This assists them in covering the expenses of transfer to another participating private or public school suitable for the students.
The program does not impose payment rules; any K12 scholarship student who fulfills the eligibility standards can apply. However, confirm your child is eligible before applying for the scholarship. Also, ensure you have been enrolled in the scholarship before withdrawing your child from Florida public school.
