What is the McKay Scholarship?
The
John M. McKay Scholarship Program allows parents of students with disabilities
to choose the best learning environment for their children.
The
parent of a Florida public school student who is dissatisfied with the
student’s progress may request a McKay Scholarship to enroll in and attend a
private school or choose another public school that better suits the student’s needs.
Eligible
students with disabilities may:
-Remain at their assigned school
-Attend another public school
-Attend a public school in an adjacent
district, or
-Attend a participating private school.
The
scholarship is equal to the amount of state generated funding the student would
have received or the cost of the private school’s tuition and fees, whichever
is less. If parents choose to enroll their child in a private school, McKay
funds will be mailed directly to the private school four times a year. The
parents will then endorse the payment over to the private school. Parents -
please remember that the financial stability of any educational facility and
program is essential to the overall welfare of its students. Therefore, you
should always be sure to endorse the check for your child promptly.
The
McKay Program puts the power back into the parent’s hands. Schools are not “one
size fits all.” Parents should look into all of their options and choose which
best suits the needs of their individual child.
McKayScholarship.com
firmly believes that the McKay program is not about public vs. private school.
It is about each and every individual child. It is about the parents of those
children making the best possible choice for their child.
How
much are the McKay Scholarships?
Scholarships
range from $5,500 to up to $22,000 a year, depending on the level of your
child’s diagnosed disability, as indicated by the IEP. The amount of the
scholarship is determined by tests that indicate where your child needs support
and by a school-based team’s evaluation of your child’s needs.
Who
is eligible for a McKay Scholarship?
Every
student who has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is eligible for a McKay
Scholarship and caregivers of every student who has an IEP are entitled to
receive a McKay Scholarship.
To
be eligible, a student must have an IEP and be enrolled in grades K through 12
in a Florida public school from October 1 through March 1.
Students
receiving a McKay scholarship and attending a state-recognized John McKay
private school automatically retain their scholarship every year until they
return to their public school, graduate from high school or reach the age of
22.
How
do I obtain a McKay Scholarship?
You
may file your intent to participate in the McKay Scholarship program by logging
on to the Florida School Choice web site at www.floridaschoolchoice.org.You
cannot file your intent by phone, but you can call the Office of Independent
Education and Parental Choice at 1-800-447-1636 if you have questions.
When
do I have to file?
Several deadlines occur
throughout the year, however, the earlier you file, the more scholarship money
you will receive. Most parents will file their intent to access a McKay
Scholarship by July 3 before the beginning of a new school
year in order to receive the full scholarship. However, you can file by
subsequent deadlines of Sept. 2, Dec. 3 and Jan. 31 and still receive McKay
funds. 
