FES-UA (Special Needs)

Note:  The only voucher program that applies to Florida Unschoolers students is the one for special needs children, the FES-UA program. The funding for children who are not special needs (FES-FTC/EO program or PEP) is not available to Florida Unschoolers students. See the links below to SUFS and AAA for more info on the PEP option and private schools that do take FES-FTC/EO funding.

Note: Florida Unschoolers is a private school in Martin County. You will need that information for your initial application and for renewals. 

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The FES-UA program provides funding for some special needs students who are not enrolled in public school. 

The organizations that manage the funding, Step Up for Students (SUFS) and AAA, each have their own process. 

SUFS sometimes requires a letter from Florida Unschoolers verifying that your child is enrolled the first time you apply and they will do cross-checks with the FL DOE to confirm your child is not enrolled in public school. SUFS can have a substantial waitlist. No letter from Florida Unschoolers is required for renewals.

AAA sometimes requires a letter confirming enrollment with Florida Unschoolers the first time you apply but sometimes classifies Florida Unschoolers students as homeschoolers which is not, technically, correct. AAA may also want a letter for renewals for the 25-26 school year. 

If you are applying for the first time and your child is enrolled with Florida Unschoolers, request a letter confirming your child's enrollment with Florida Unschoolers by email -- director@floridaunschoolers.net -- include your child's name, birthdate, and the grade they will be listed in with the FES-UA program. 

Florida Unschoolers does not manage the FL voucher programs and the only one that applies to Florida Unschoolers is the FES-UA program for special needs children. Florida Unschoolers does not receive payments from FES-UA funds, does not charge tuition, is not a "participating" private school in that sense; Florida Unschoolers is an "eligible" private school for enrollment purposes and listed with the FL DOE. So the FES-UA funds stay in the child's FES-UA account for parents to use for education expenses other than tuition. Note that parents are not required to use FES-UA funding for tuition. 

See these groups for more information:

SUFS -- https://www.stepupforstudents.org/

AAA -- https://www.aaascholarships.org/

The FL DOE has some information here -- https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/fes/

There are also Facebook groups run by parents using this program and they can be better sources of accurate information. Here are a few:

FES-UA Parent Help & Advocacy | Groups | Facebook 

ADVOCACY for FL FES-UA (formerly Gardiner-McKay) Parent Advocacy | Groups | Facebook

Florida FES-UA Scholarship UNofficial support (formerly PLSA/Gardiner) | Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/687587161325676/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1849264868489345
https://www.facebook.com/groups/942029432618856
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FLPLSAparents