| What is the purpose of Corporate Tax Credit (CTC) Scholarships? |
| The purpose of CTC Scholarships is to provide equal educational opportunities for Florida students by offering low-income families academic choices normally denied them due to their financial status. CTC Scholarships are awarded and disbursed by non-profit foundations designated as eligible Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFOs) by the state of Florida. |
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| How many SFO's are there and what are their names? |
| There are currently 3 primary Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFOs) in Florida serving families on a regional basis. Children First Florida (previously known separately as HEROES and Children First Florida) serves students in 43 counties comprising all of north, central and east Florida. Florida PRIDE serves 23 counties including west and south Florida. |
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| When can I apply for a scholarship for the 2007-2008 school year? |
| Applications for the 07-08 school year will be made available for renewal families and their children at the beginning of February, 2007. Applications for new scholarship applicants will be available at the beginning of March, 2007. |
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| How do students qualify for a CTC Scholarship? |
| There are three requirements:
1. The student must live in Florida.
2. An eligible student must be EITHER entering 5 year old kindergarten (those children must be 5 years old on or before September 1); entering 1st grade; OR if in 2nd grade or above, must have attended a Florida public school the full school year prior to receiving the scholarship.
3. The family’s income must fall within the published financial guidelines required for eligibility to participate in the Federal School Lunch Program. |
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| What if a child already attends a private school? |
| Children entering 5 year old kindergarten (the child must be 5 years old on or before September1) OR first grade, may have attended private school the year prior to receiving their scholarship, HOWEVER, students entering second grade or above MUST have attended a Florida public school the ENTIRE year prior to receiving a CTC scholarship. |
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| How can I check the income eligibility guidelines for the Federal School Lunch Program? |
| Amended yearly each spring, the Federal School Lunch Program current guidelines can be found on this website (click here), or the U.S. Department of Agriculture web-site (click here). They are also printed on the scholarship application. |
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| Who gets in? Are grades important? |
| The scholarships are not based on academic requirements. This opportunity is available to all eligible low-income students in grades K - 12 regardless of their previous academic performance. |
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| How do I get an application? |
| An application is available on this web site, click on "Eligibility" then click on "Requirements". |
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| Are you encouraging student to leave the public schools? |
| Absolutely not. We are providing low-income parents the opportunity to choose the school that best meets their children’s educational needs above their own financial restrictions. We are merely providing families with financial assistance so they can have academic alternatives for their children if they want them. |
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| How much is a Corporate Tax Credit (CTC) Scholarship worth and what does it cover? |
| A scholarship is worth up to $3,950 per year. It may be used for tuition, textbooks, or if the parent chooses, up to $500 is available to pay for travel expense if the student would like to choose another public school in another district. Books and transportation may not amount to more than 25% of the tuition cost. |
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| May the parents supplement the amount of the scholarship if it is not adequate to cover all of the tuition expense? |
| Yes. However, in 2006 the average yearly cost of private schooling in central Florida was approximately $3,500. |
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| Can a school supplement a student's scholarship? |
| Yes. |
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| So what happens next year? Can a family expect the scholarship to continue? |
| Funding for CTC students will continue as long as their parents provide yearly proof of financial eligibility, and as long as the generosity of our donors continues. |
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