Homeschooling families in Florida given funds to help with schooling costs?

[serenitygr]

Forgive me is this is a dumb question- I was just reading an article and it talked about 2 states- AZ and FL- that gave the funds they would normally put into a child's public education -into a special account the parents could use to help with homeschooling costs and programs. Is this true, or am I reading it completely wrong? We have nothing- and I mean NOTHING- like that in our state, and I think it is very interesting!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am in Florida and unaware of this.

Do you have a link?

 

[texasroni75]

As far as I know they aren't really handing out money to homeschooling parents. There are STOs (basically groups that collect money to give "scholarships" to homeschool families), but from what I have read they are questionable because they are like a business that gives only a portion of the money to the families and keep the rest.

There are legitimate tax breaks in effect and being proposed in some states based on money homeschoolers spend on educating their kids. If anyone has more info, please share

http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200504150.asp

 

[serenitygr]

I am in Florida and unaware of this.

Do you have a link?

I'm not sure how to post a link to the article but I'll try:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/state-education-savings-accounts-taxpayers-114966.html

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm not sure how to post a link to the article but I'll try:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/state-education-savings-accounts-taxpayers-114966.html

Thanks.

I skimmed the article.

It appears it is only for (Florida) families with a student with an eligible disability.

 

[serenitygr]

That's what I was thinking at first, but in reading it, it really makes it sound otherwise.... We are a new homeschooling family, and I think it's an amazing idea. I can see advantages and disadvantages to it, but I think it would give families access to so many opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have for their kids.....

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

That's what I was thinking at first, but in reading it, it really makes it sound otherwise.... We are a new homeschooling family, and I think it's an amazing idea. I can see advantages and disadvantages to it, but I think it would give families access to so many opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have for their kids.....

No, the article clearly states that the Florida ESA program is for students with one of seven specific disabilities only. There is a link in the article to the actual program; did you look at it?

https://www.stepupforstudents.org/special-needs-scholarship/plsa

Is your child eligible? This scholarship is for Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grade with one of the following disabilities: autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Spina bifida, Williams syndrome or Intellectual Disability (severe cognitive impairment). Also, students who are deemed “high risk” due to developmental delays and who are not older than 5 on Sept. 1 may be eligible for the year they are applying. Click here to read the statutory definitions.