Everything Parents Should Know About Florida’s New “Family Empowerment Scholarship” Part 1

On May 9th, 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a bill into law that will afford parents more freedom in school selection through an all-new, state-funded voucher program. This legislation creates an exciting opportunity for parents who want greater autonomy over their children’s academic future.

The official signing took place at William A. Kirlew Junior Academy in Miami Gardens. Before an exuberant crowd, DeSantis spoke about the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES), which will help terminate a Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship waiting list that currently contains 13,000 families.

“I personally believe as a matter of principle and philosophy that parents know what’s best for their kids, they know the right environment, and that if you empower parents regardless of income that the parents ultimately can make the best decision,” DeSantis said.

For parents, there’s never been a better time to take advantage of Florida’s increasingly choice-friendly education system. Whether you’re looking for an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, with a proven track record of student success, or you have an older child who wants to finish high school in a new setting, Lakeside Christian School provides students with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s world.

The Family Empowerment Scholarship

The FES will help facilitate a broader school choice initiative serving 18,000 students in year one, followed by another 7,000 students in the coming years. Unlike the FTC Scholarship, which relies on corporate contributions, the FES will gain funding from the Florida Education Finance Program.

In the Tampa Bay area, this will allow more parents to enroll their children in one of the private schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School. Many families want the option to provide their children with an education that helps them grow academically, socially, and spiritually, and the FES is designed to support this endeavor.

More Opportunity for Low-Income Families

One recent study conducted by the Urban Institute indicated that low-income FTC students had a 43 percent greater probability of enrolling in four-year colleges than their public school peers. In addition, the study showed that they were 20 percent more likely to actually earn bachelor’s degrees. Figures like this help justify the existence of the FTC Scholarship’s extensive waiting list, but the FES will do away with this list altogether.

According to DeSantis, the primary goal of the FES is to offer “more opportunity for thousands and thousands of low-income families here in the state of Florida,” which is why this new scholarship initiative is viewed as a “big, big deal” in the eyes of parents, students, and legislators.

In part two of this two-part series, we’ll cover some additional perspectives on this new law and explain why choice matters for your children’s education.

If you would like to learn more about scholarship opportunities at Lakeside Christian School, the best private school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.

Breaking News: Scholarships are Still Available for Students Looking to Enroll for the 2019-20 School Year

An exciting development involving the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship will make it possible for even more students to benefit from Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL. The state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization (SFO) recently announced that “more income-based scholarships [are] available for the 2019-20 school year.” This means that families who want to give their children the gift of a bright academic future but can’t afford to do so can still apply for the FTC Scholarship for financial assistance.

If you are interested in enrolling your child at one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School, don’t hesitate to apply for the FTC Scholarship here. This first-come, first-served program fills up quickly, and once they’re full, they’re full. If this is the opportunity you or someone you know has been waiting for, there’s no better time to apply than right now.

Spread the News

Even if your child is already attending one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, you can still spread the gift of learning by sharing this information with families who are looking to take a new approach to their child’s education. This is the perfect opportunity to introduce your friends and family to the benefits of an affordable private education. Flyers are available in both English and Spanish. Click here to view the flyer in English, or click here to view it in Spanish. Step Up For Students has even provided a “suggested post” for schools that want to share this news on social media platforms like Facebook. With a minor tweak to the copy, parents can share this information with their friends and followers as well:

Want to send your child to Lakeside Christian School, but can’t afford it? Help is here. Step Up For Students has more income-based scholarships available for the 2019-20 school year. Don’t delay, apply now. As always, they’re first-come, first-served. Learn more at the Step Up For Students website.

Is a New Scholarship on the Horizon?

In addition to this exciting news, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis just signed a bill creating the Family Empowerment Scholarship. While the details are slim at this time, Step Up For Students is keeping an eye on any developments to share with schools and families as they are made public by the Florida Department of Education. However, according to the Florida Department of Education website, “Students who have already applied for the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship program may be determined to meet the income eligibility without resubmitting household income documentation to the SFO.” Current information can be found here.

If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School and Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.

How Private Schools Improve College Readiness Part 1

Several studies within the last decade support the fact that students that attend private schools are more prepared to take on college coursework. Furthermore, they are more likely to graduate with a four-year degree. In this two-part article, we will discuss relevant data compiled from several studies on this topic. We will also discuss many of the benefits of enrolling your children in one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL.

At Lakeside Christian School, we offer a highly comprehensive college preparation program that provides elementary, middle school, and high school students with core academic preparation, daily tutoring sessions, homework assistance, and small class sizes that focus on the individual needs of each and every student.

Private Schools are Preferred by Parents

There are several reasons to enroll your child in a private school that benefit both your child and your family as a whole. Not only will private school students receive a first-class education, but studies also support that their parents are generally more satisfied with private school facilities, teachers, and overall standards.

According to data compiled by a 2012 study performed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), private school parents reportedly give high marks in the following areas:

Communication: Private school administrators successfully initiate more effective communication practices with parents. This includes parent-teacher conferences, emailing or calling parents, among other means of communication.
Workload: Parents are more satisfied with an improved student/teacher ratio and a more challenging course curriculum to prepare their child for college coursework. Parents also generally feel their children are required to accomplish the right amount of homework at a private school.
Higher Learning: Private schools meet parents’ expectations in regard to specific educational attainment levels. Whether it’s influential teachers, tutoring programs, or higher scores on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, there are many benefits to a private school education system.
Community: Parents are more likely to participate in various school-related activities at a private school including fundraisers, conferences, board meetings, in-school events, volunteer opportunities, and other extracurricular events.

Religious Schools Have a Tremendous Graduation Rate

Some studies show that private school students are more likely to obtain a high school diploma, attend a four-year college, and earn a bachelor’s degree. According to data compiled by NCES over a two-year period that began in 2002, 97.2 percent of religious high school sophomores went on to graduate in the summer of 2004 compared to 84.1 percent of public high school sophomores. Similarly, 76.2 percent of these religious high school sophomores were in their second year of college in 2006; whereas, 40.5 percent of public high school students were attending college in the study.

Although the above data was compiled from a study over a decade ago, as we will discuss in the next part of this article, many recent studies released by the SAT and ACT support the idea that private schools meet or surpass benchmark expectations for these standardized tests and better prepare students for their college coursework.

If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a Clearwater private school, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.

Does My Child Qualify for a Step Up For Students Scholarship?

As a state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization, Step Up For Students is dedicated to providing Florida students with the education they need and deserve. Step Up For Students offers several scholarships to Florida students who may otherwise not have the resources to obtain the benefits of private education. Below, we’ll be looking at the requirements for students wishing to qualify for Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL.

The Income-Based Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship

The age requirement for the FTC scholarship is five years old for students entering kindergarten and six years old for students entering first grade. They must reach this age on or before the first of September. A child may be eligible for an FTC scholarship for any of the following reasons:

A member of the household receives food stamps or federal assistance
The household income qualifies the student for a free or reduced-price lunch
The household income is at or below the amounts indicated in the Step Up For Students eligibility chart
The child is homeless, in foster care, or in out-of-home care

Gardiner Scholarship

The Gardiner scholarship better allows parents of children with special needs and unique abilities to individualize their child’s education. Students between the ages of 3 and 22 who have yet to complete the 12th grade may qualify for the Gardiner scholarship. Your child may qualify for the Gardiner scholarship if they have:

A qualifying disability or impairment
A rare disease
Developmental delays

Your child may also qualify if they are hospital or homebound. Please click here for the full list of qualifying disabilities, impairments, and requirements.

Reading Scholarship

The Reading scholarship helps students that are struggling with reading. Students in the third- through fifth grades who score a 2 or less on the English Language Arts section of the Florida Standards Assessment for the previous year may qualify for this program.

Please visit Step Up For Students to apply and view all scholarships, requirements, deadlines, and benefits. All students, no matter their background or abilities, are entitled to a private education at a Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School.

The above scholarships are in high demand, so be sure to apply. We invite you to come by for a tour or shadow day at Lakeside Christian School and see firsthand what your child’s education and future could be.

If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.

The Benefits of a Christian Education

Children who study under Christian tutelage not only grow academically, they cultivate a stronger sense of spirituality and develop a more comprehensive worldview. While remaining academically competitive with their counterparts, they also benefit from a variety of intangibles that simply aren’t offered in other institutions.

As you address this important question — whether or not to allow your child to grow in a Christian education setting — keep in mind that a Clearwater, FL, Christian school, like Lakeside Christian School, can help make this a reality and even help you obtain financial assistance through one of the Step Up For Students scholarships they support. By expanding the availability of private Christian education in the Clearwater area, Lakeside Christian School is helping more students benefit from a learning environment that doesn’t distance God from academics.

Individual Attention

Private Christian schools in Clearwater, FL, tend to benefit from superior student-teacher ratios which allows instructors to connect with students more closely and provide them with individualized instruction geared toward bolstering their strengths and mitigating their weaknesses. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) notes that the student-teacher ratio for public schools was 16.1 students per teacher in 2014. By comparison, the student-teacher ratio for private schools was 12.2. That’s a nearly 25 percent reduction in class size in private institutions, which, in turn, fosters more opportunities for individual attention.

Shared Values

Students who spend each and every day learning side-by-side with other like-minded individuals who care about their fellow man and embrace God tend to develop morally and ethically earlier than their peers. Your child will be supported by their learning community — including students, faculty, and staff — and be guided to make the right decisions and conduct themselves according to Christian values.

Biblical Lessons

If you want your child to be immersed in the word of God, it’s important that their studies incorporate Biblical lessons each and every day. Not only does the Bible teach us valuable lessons about morality, acceptance, and absolution, it lends itself to the development of leadership qualities and instills a sense of conviction in students. In addition, Christian education materials integrate a religious viewpoint that helps guide students’ learning and development.

Developing Faith

As a parent, if you want your child to abide by the principles of the Bible, you need to ensure that they are surrounded by people who aren’t afraid to put their love of Christianity on display for others to observe and learn from. As your child grows and matures, you want to ensure that their faith in God’s word experiences a similar growth. At home and in church, you will work to cultivate a strong Christian faith. A student who is enrolled in a Clearwater, FL, Christian school will continue to develop their faith inside and outside of school.

If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the premier Christian schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.

Everything You Need to Know About Step Up For Students in Florida

Step Up For Students is a scholarship funding organization (SFO) based in Florida with an important mission: to help students find their place within Florida’s public and private education system so they can attain an education that puts them on the path to success. Qualifying students who are enrolled in one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, have access to scholarships designed to place students in a learning environment that improves their chances of climbing the academic ladder while simultaneously giving them access to the resources they need to grow and mature alongside other students.

This article details everything parents who are interested in Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL, ought to know before applying for one of the scholarships offered. Is your child not getting the most out of their time at school? Are they distracted, unmotivated, or bored? Perhaps it’s time for a change of scenery so your child can get the most out of their education. As one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, Lakeside Christian School has seen firsthand how students can benefit from things like smaller class sizes, individualized learning, and a close-knit community of students, faculty, and staff.

Helping Students Succeed Since 2000

Founded in 2000, Step Up For Students is the longest-running state-approved SFO in Florida still active today. It is one of only two SFOs in Florida approved to administer the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship, the Gardiner Scholarship, the Hope Scholarship, and the Reading Scholarship Programs. It’s also the only state-approved SFO operating exclusively in Florida, which gives the organization unique insight on the needs of Florida’s students while cultivating close bonds with the very students it serves.

Step Up For Students Gives Every Student an Opportunity to Succeed

One of the best aspects of Step Up For Students is that the scholarships they offer cover a broad range of student needs. For instance, the FTC Scholarship is aimed at providing low-income families with the financial assistance they need to enroll their children in a private school where they can receive an exceptional education. On the other hand, the Gardiner Scholarship assists students with special needs to help them access the types of individualized educational plans best suited to serve their needs.

Practical Strategies for Saving Money for Tuition

Private school tuition can be expensive, but parents shouldn’t give up as soon as they see a high price tag. All private schools are different, as are their respective tuition costs. By utilizing practical money-saving strategies, nearly anyone can send their child to an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School. Here are a few suggestions to help you save money so that you can provide your child with access to the type of education that builds the leaders of tomorrow.

Budget for the Important Things in Life

Your child’s education should always be one of your main priorities. Not only is education important for their social and emotional development, it’s also an investment in their future and helps guarantee that they will be successful. Therefore, it’s imperative that you budget for the important things in life that will help your family prosper. Besides your child’s education, other examples include healthy foods, hobbies and activities, and medical care. Nonessential expenses like eating out, expensive entertainment, and ill-advised vacations should be handled with the utmost caution.

Mitigate Financial Stress with a Payment Plan

When you try to take on tuition as a lump sum, it can feel like an insurmountable obstacle. Fortunately, some private schools offer payment plans to help make the price of tuition more manageable. A monthly payment plan is vastly preferred to a lump sum and helps improve your ability to maintain a budget on a monthly basis. When you know exactly how much you need to set aside for the essentials, as we mentioned in the last paragraph, it makes living comfortably and supporting your child’s education that much easier.

Apply for Scholarships

Private scholarships, like those offered by Step Up For Students, help more students gain access to private elementary schools in Clearwater, FL. That’s right, scholarships aren’t just for college students, and you can apply for some of Step Up For Student’s offerings as early as elementary school. For example, at Lakeside Christian School, many students are the recipients of scholarships like the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship, Gardiner Scholarship, and Reading Scholarship. Each of these scholarships has unique eligibility requirements to assist a range of students with different needs.

Play the Long Game

When your child exhibits academic excellence at a young age, they’re more likely to gain favor for college scholarships. In other words, investing in your child’s education today could result in huge savings in the future. When your child’s academic resume includes a premier private school, like Lakeside Christian School, they will be in a superior position to acquire scholarships that can greatly reduce the rising price of college tuition.

Are you interested in enrolling your child in one of the private elementary schools in Clearwater, FL? Don’t let your preconceived notions about the high price of private school tuition dissuade you from giving your child the best education possible. Utilize these practical strategies for saving money to help make private education a reality for your child.

If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a premier, affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.

How Does a Small School Setting Help My Child Succeed?

Parents are faced with a plethora of decisions when selecting the right education for their child. Of course, parents must first decide whether they want their children to learn in a public or private setting, but there are many other considerations as well, especially when a parent opts to put their child on the private school track.

Every private school is distinct. Some private schools have thousands of students while others have hundreds or less. As a parent, it’s important to acknowledge that the size of a school can have a substantial effect on your child’s education. In many cases, parents find that their child can benefit from a small school setting that affords students more one-on-one time with their teachers.

Are you looking to enroll your child in one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL? The students at Lakeside Christian School benefit from a highly focused, small school setting featuring teachers dedicated to student success who take pleasure in helping children achieve their academic, social, and career-minded goals.

More Opportunities for Inspiration

Private schools that have embraced a small school setting typically allow students to engage with their teachers on a more personal level. In other words, students gain valuable one-on-one time that simply can’t be facilitated by schools with comparably larger class sizes. When your child has the ability to communicate with teachers directly, they can ask more questions and get hands-on assistance working through the problems they find the most challenging. The teacher also benefits from the chance to learn more about your child and develop a curriculum to maximize their academic success.

Close-knit Community Learning

In a small school setting, your child will feel a stronger sense of community. They are less likely to feel lost in the crowd and will build closer relationships with faculty, staff, and students. When your child has the opportunity to build strong relationships, they are more likely to succeed as they work together with others to work through problems. Outside of school, these relationships often blossom into lifelong friendships. Also, a close-knit community can help boost student confidence while encouraging them to share their thoughts and ideas more openly. Your child is attending school to obtain a high quality education, but they are also there to develop socially. In a small school setting, they can benefit from both.

If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.

3 Benefits of Touring Private Schools Before Enrollment

Your child’s education is an important part of their growth and development. You want the best for your child, to provide them with the opportunity to grow and flourish so they can become leaders in their communities as they get older, but you also need to balance their educational development with their overall well-being.

There’s a good chance that you’ve already read about the benefits of private education, and if you are taking the initiative to secure a more tailored approach to your child’s education, you will want to be certain that you take the time to tour any schools you are considering. Remember, if you are worried about the cost of private education, Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School, offer scholarship opportunities to help low-income families afford private school.

1. Get to Know the Staff

When you tour a private school, you can introduce yourself to the school’s staff and even meet a few teachers. You can see what life in the classroom is like and get a firsthand look at how the school’s teachers are helping children learn. The school’s staff will be your support system during your child’s enrollment and your primary point of contact for helping you and your child deal with any issues that may arise.

2. Check Out the Facilities

For your child to obtain a high-quality education, they need to feel comfortable learning in the facilities provided by the private school you select. Has the school taken proactive measures to create vibrant learning spaces that spur your child’s interest and encourage them to embrace learning? Are their facilities well-maintained? These are some of the questions you will want to ask yourself as you tour private schools.

3. Learn About Scholarship Opportunities

Touring private schools not only allows you to get a better idea of what day-to-day life is like at the school, but it also gives you the opportunity to learn more about how the school can help you make private education a reality for your child. For example, some schools can help low-income families afford a private education because they have partnered with Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL. One of the Step Up For Students scholarships, the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) scholarship, helps low-income families send their children to private schools.

Autism Awareness Month

“When it comes to people with mental or physical disabilities, we need to help them to achieve what kind of dreams they want,” he added. “And when it comes to autism, we always have one goal and that is to thrive. We need to thrive.”

This quote comes from Parker Neilson, as quoted by Fox 31 news in an article you can find here. If you watch the video and read the article, you’ll find that Parker is a senior at Lakeside Christian School, and has been diagnosed with autism. He now gives back to the community that has helped him grow and thrive.

It’s inspiring, to say the least.

It’s Autism Awareness Month, and we wanted to share Parker’s story here in order to encourage families that also have children with autism. Lakeside Christian School does not specialize in teaching students with special needs, but we do strive to include students with many different abilities (including those with autism) like Parker. We believe that every student is made in God’s image and we’d like everyone to take a look at LCS to see if their child could benefit from our program.

Parker began attending LCS in 3rd grade, where he received the foundation he needed to find success in high school. Parker now attends part time and is also home schooled, but both Parker and his parents credit LCS with helping to prepare him to “thrive,” as he said.

Your child will fit perfectly somewhere. Why not take a look at Lakeside Christian School and see if that somewhere is with us. Call us and schedule your personal tour today!

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