Basic Program Facts about the Hope Scholarship
Florida created the Hope Scholarship in 2018 to give bullied students a fresh start. This first-of-its-kind school choice program provides scholarships to students suffering from bullying at their prior public school. K-12 students who have reported an incident of harassment, hazing, bullying, robbery, sexual assault and more, may be eligible for a scholarship to attend a private school or a public school in a different school district. The program is paid for by individual donors who receive a tax credit, up to $105, on their motor vehicle purchase taxes. Tax credits were first made available to donors on October 1, 2018.
There is no typical student who suffers from bullying, harassment or assault. It can happen to anyone. Bullying can lead to poor grades and low self-esteem, but students can achieve success academically and socially when freed from harassment.
Scholarships are available to K-12 students on a first-come, first-served basis. Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, students are eligible if they have reported an incident, that occurred on or after August 1, 2018, of battery, harassment, hazing, bullying, kidnapping, physical attack, robbery, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual battery, threat or intimidation, or fighting at school.
For 2020-21, the Hope Scholarship will worth an average of between $6,673 and $7,169 depending on grade. Students wishing to transfer to a new public school in a different school district will receive up to $750 for transportation costs.
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More than 1,800 private schools are participating in other choice programs. From our experience these schools tend to be: Small in size: The average total enrollment is 135 students. Serve mostly private-paying students: Of the 1,934 participating private schools, school choice students make up an average of 30 percent of total enrollment. Only 333 schools serve more than 100 scholarship students. Is faith-based: 69 percent of the schools are faith-based. The 186 Catholic schools represent the largest single group.