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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I can hardly believe it even as I type it, but my oldest child will be attending kindergarten in the fall. Like any parent, I want a secure school with caring teachers, safe classrooms, good discipline, and an environment that will encourage my daughter to grow emotionally, socially, and academically. Living in Pinellas County, we have many options. There are public schools (they don’t rate very highly, and recently some “A” schools fell to “C” status… so that’s not for us). There are charter schools (while many are good schools, they aren’t required to meet all the standards public schools do, and I’m not comfortable with that). There are private schools (some aren’t accredited, meaning their teachers aren’t required to have degrees, for one thing- I don’t like that; the other problem is they are MUCH too expensive for our budget). I had done my research and I knew what was important for us:
With these points in mind, we took a tour of Lakeside Christian School. This school has been open since 1975, located in the heart of Clearwater, though well- hidden behind Lakeside Community Chapel, on Sunset Point Road. It’s safely tucked on the back of the property, and while the facilities aren’t brand new or fancy, they are clean, bright, and cheery. Walking the halls, I heard little, as classes were in progress and quietly staying on task. As I spoke in the hallway with the Administrator, Jim Jensen, two small children headed to the office from the playground. One had his hand gently on the other’s back as he helped his injured friend get some ice. I was struck by the kindness in that act, for such small children.
Mr. Jensen first had us sit down in his office and allowed my husband and myself to ask any and all questions we had. We had many! Here are the key points of what we discussed:
I was impressed with what I learned and what I saw. I left feeling that my daughter could thrive at Lakeside Christian School, and all my important points were met. I should also add that while most private schools in the area are far outside our price range, Mr. Jensen was willing to work with our budget and help us find a way to afford to send our daughter. Scholarships are available, and we will be applying through Step Up for Students.
If your important points looks similar to mine, I suggest you take a personal tour with Mr. Jensen as well. Call him soon– enrollment has begun! I think you’ll find that this hidden away school might just be a perfect fit for your kindergarten student!
Step Up For Students is an organization dedicated to providing students with more opportunities to attain the education that will best serve them on their path to a brighter tomorrow. The scholarships provided by Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL, include the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship, Gardiner Scholarship, Hope Scholarship, and Reading Scholarship.
According to the Step Up For Students website, the organization “empowers parents to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children, with an emphasis on families who lack the financial resources to access these options.”
This ideal is embodied by the FTC Scholarship. This scholarship provides funding for families who need financial assistance to enroll their children in a private school or transport them to attend a public school located in a different county. Qualifying families can renew their scholarships every year, but the high demand for this scholarship means that availability is limited. More than 680,000 FTC Scholarships have been awarded to low-income families with children, grades kindergarten through 12th, since 2002.
The Gardiner Scholarship awards funding to parents with children who have unique abilities or special needs. Special needs students require individualized educational plans to best serve their needs. The scholarship honors Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner, who pushed for funding alongside his wife Camille to support students like their son, Andrew, who has Down Syndrome. The Gardiner Scholarship gives parents the freedom to customize their child’s education according to their needs. Money can be utilized for enrollment fees, therapists, specialists, curriculum, technology, or college savings. On average, students are awarded $10,000.
In 2018, the Florida Legislature established the Hope Scholarship Program as a countermeasure to give students a reprieve from bullying and violence. This scholarship allows students to seek a new learning environment free from bullying to give them a better opportunity to learn effectively without being threatened with violence. Parents can seek a different school that isn’t at capacity and receive funding for transportation. In some cases, parents can request a scholarship to enroll their child at an eligible private school like Lakeside Christian School.
In order for students to qualify for the Hope Scholarship, a qualifying incident must have taken place at school or during a school-related or school-sponsored program or activity, which includes riding the bus or waiting at the bus stop. Qualifying incidents include:
If your child is having difficulties learning to read and is in grades three through five, they may qualify for the Reading Scholarship administered by Step Up For Students. This scholarship offers parents significant savings on tuition and fees related to part-time tutoring, summer schools, and after-school literacy programs by establishing education savings accounts worth $500.
Lakeside Christian School is one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL. Since 1975, we have worked together to challenge “students to achieve their academic, social and career-minded goals.”
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a school that partners with Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
As one of the premier private schools in Clearwater, FL, Lakeside Christian School serves our students, their families, and the community as a whole by providing our students with the education and tools they need to become the leaders of tomorrow. We are accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and have been serving Clearwater since 1975.
ACSI accreditation is a widely recognized symbol of excellence bestowed exclusively on schools who commit themselves to meeting an array of rigorous standards. Parents who want their children to benefit from a comprehensive Christian education can rest assured that an ACSI-accredited school will go above and beyond to instill a sense of wonder in your children to inspire a lifelong love of learning. And that’s only the beginning. ACSI accreditation also benefits your child because:
When choosing a Clearwater private school to enroll your child in, it’s important to consider not only the quality of your child’s education but also to assess the spiritual mission of the schools you are considering. ACSI accreditation ensures that your child’s school is fully committed to meeting both of these goals.
“I cannot think of any action taken by a school that produces more total school benefit than the decision to attain accreditation status,” said Ken Tanis, Headmaster Emeritus of Delaware County Christian Schools. “Curriculum quality is strengthened, school policies are refined, student achievement enhanced, and future directions intensified. Without accreditation, the attainment of overall excellence for a Christian school is difficult.”
The ACSI accreditation ensures that your children develop an enhanced knowledge of the Bible, cultivate a biblical worldview, improve academic competency, learn life skills, utilize practical applications of knowledge, and build character while strengthening their spiritual beliefs.
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.
Are you ready to join the Lakeside Christian School community? Contact us, and schedule a tour today.
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