McKay Scholarship Information

We would like to inform you that your child may be eligible to participate in the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program, commonly known as the McKay Scholarship Program. This program was created to provide educational options to parents of students with disabilities. Currently, more than 30,000 Florida students are participating In this program. 
By participating in the McKay Scholarship Program, your student may be able to attend a different public school in your district, attend a public school in an adjacent district, or receive a scholarship to attend a participating private school. 
To be eligible for the McKay Scholarship Program, a student must apply for the program prior to withdrawing from public school. The student must have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), or 504 Accommodation Plan Issued under s. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (with duration of more than six months), and 
Have been enrolled and reported for funding in a Florida public school (Grades K-12) for the school year prior to applying for a scholarship (foster students may be exempt from this requirement); or
Have been a pre-kindergarten student who was enrolled and reported for funding in a Florida public school during the school year prior to applying for a scholarship; or
Have received specialized instructional services under the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program from an approved provider pursuant to s. 1002.66 during the previous school year; or
Have attended the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind during the preceding school year's student membership surveys (Grades K-12).

To find out if your student Is eligible, you may apply for the McKay Scholarship Program on the School Choice website at www.floridaschoolchoice.grg. Select the McKay Scholarships link, then Parents, and then the link titled Apply for a McKay Scholarship, 
To learn more about your child's educational options, please contact your school district's McKay Office at [email protected]. You may also contact the Florida Department of Education, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice Information Hotline at 1-800-447-1636, or visit the School Choice website at www.floridaschoolchoice.org and click the McKay Scholarships link. 

For additional information you may also download the McKay Scholarships Quick Reference Brochure here.