For the 2022-2023 school year, students who have been receiving the McKay Scholarship to attend a private school will need to transfer to the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, or FES-UA program by applying with a Scholarship Funding Organization or SFO. Families that want to choose a public school option must contact their district’s school choice office.
AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of two SFOs administering the FES-UA Scholarship Program. According to state law, the parent/guardian of an FES-UA student must annually:
1) sign an agreement with an SFO (an FES-UA “application”), and
2) annually submit a sworn compliance statement to the SFO to satisfy or maintain program eligibility, including eligibility to receive and spend program payments by renewing participation in the program each year. The sworn compliance statement is part of AAA’s application.
FES-UA Applications
The final 2022-23 application submission deadline for AAA’s disability-based scholarship (FES-UA) was 5/6/2022. Applications that were submitted by that date will be processed. Applications submitted after that date will not be processed.
If you missed the deadline but still want to apply for an FES-UA scholarship for 2022-2023, please visit Step Up for Student’s website.
FES-UA McKay transfer application that have been submitted to AAA by the deadline will be processed. If we find we need additional clarification or information in order to complete the processing of your FES-UA McKay transfer application, we will email you. Once processing is complete, we will submit the required information to the FL DOE and notify you in writing of our conditional determination of eligibility.
FES-UA Scholarship Funding
Eligibility is conditional until the FL DOE has cross-checked the student against the rosters for public school and the other Florida scholarship programs. The cross-checks begin in July of each year and continue as new applications are found conditionally eligible until all available program funds have been exhausted.
Information for students who pass the cross-check will be submitted by the SFO for funding by the state. The state determines the level of funding for the program each year. They fund FES-UA scholarship accounts up to four times per year (on or around September 1st, November 1st, February 1st and April 1st) although the exact date and number of times an account is funded may vary.
FES-UA Scholarship Accounts
Parents/guardians of conditionally eligible students will receive the following documents in the mail directly from AAA:
1. Scholarship Award Letter;
2. School Commitment Form or “SCF” (required for eligible Private School payments);
3. Florida Prepaid College & Savings Plan form; (must be an eligible account for FES-UA direct contributions)
4. Pre-Authorization for FES-UA Program Purchase of Item and/or Curriculum Form;
5. Direct Payment to Service Provider/Vendor Form; and
6. Parent/Guardian Expense Reimbursement Form
Once funded by the FL DOE, an FES-UA account can be used to fund many of the educational needs for eligible students such as private school tuition and fees, private tutoring, specialized services, pre-approved curriculum and instructional materials, and many other goods and services.
AAA’s 2022-23 FES-UA Parent and School Handbook will provide all the information you will need to make the most of your child’s FES-UA account. The 2022-23 Handbook will be available on our website soon. Until then, here is a link to the 2021-22 version of the Handbook.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and your children!