Family Empowerment Scholarship
Speech Therapy For Florida Children With Unique Abilities
What is the Family Empowerment Scholarship?
→ The Florida Department of Education Family Empowerment Scholarship Program (also known as the Gardiner Scholarship or Florida Empowerment Scholarship) is a state-approved organization that helps administer scholarships for lower-income families in Florida.
→ The Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) is different from other state scholarships because it allows parents to personalize their children’s education by directing money toward a combination of programs and approved providers.
How We Can Help
Connected Speech Pathology has been a certified DIRECT Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) provider since 2018. We reach eligible students across the state of Florida by delivering speech-language therapy and evaluations online.
When you work with us, there are NO out-of-pocket costs for you. Your Family Empowerment Scholarship funds will cover 100% of the speech-language evaluation and therapy services provided.
We will handle all of the steps involved in reimbursement so that you can focus on your child.
Why Connected Speech Pathology?
Many qualified speech therapists can help with speech and language disorders, but finding the right one is critical to helping your child improve quickly.
We provide engaging therapy that is fun and interactive!
Each of our team members is a specialist with an advanced degree and an average of 15 years of experience.
We’ll take the time to match your child with the right therapist for their individual needs and goals.
We offer flexible scheduling to meet at a convenient time for your family.
We can provide evaluations and treatment in English and Spanish.
Online Speech Therapy Services
Online speech therapy can help students who receive the Florida Empowerment Scholarship overcome communication challenges related to:
How Do We Meet?
Easy—we’ll meet online via our secure platform.
All you need to participate in online speech therapy is a computer or tablet and an internet connection. Our private video conferencing platform is free to download.
Some of the advantages of using online speech therapy:
Receiving speech therapy from home eliminates transportation concerns and travel time
It removes the hassle of going to in-person appointments and improves attendance
It helps those who live in rural areas get the communication treatment they need
Allows for straightforward generalization of goals into everyday life
It’s fun and engaging!
Learn More About the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program
In 2021, House Bill 7045 was signed into law resulting in several changes to the state-funded scholarship and an extensive expansion of the Florida Department of Education’s Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.
There are two branches of the Family Empowerment Scholarship program.
Family Empowerment Scholarship Educational Option:
Students may enroll in participating private schools with this branch of the Family Empowerment Scholarship. If the private school participates, it will accept financial assistance for private school tuition and fees. Each individual is responsible for determining whether the private schools participate in the program.
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities:
This division of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program is designed to offer families of students with disabilities three years and older access to additional education options. Families can use funds for online learning programs, private tutoring, and other approved customized learning services such as speech therapy.
Eligibility for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program (formerly called Gardiner Scholarship)
Residency:
The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program is for Florida residents only.
Age Requirements:
Family Empowerment Scholarship Educational Option: If the student is attending a private school, scholarship recipients need to be age five before September 1st of the year in which the student applies for program participation. Or the child must be eligible to enroll in kindergarten through 12th grade in a Florida public school. Students entering first grade need to be age six before September 1st.
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities: If a student is enrolled in a home education program, they may be eligible if they are three years old or four years old by September 1st or eligible to enroll in K-12 at a private or public school.
Household Income:
During the 2022-23 school year, a family of four people with a household income up to $111,000 annually may be eligible.
IEP & Diagnoses:
Eligible students need to have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) from a public school child demonstrating that a child is qualified for special education OR diagnosis of a disability from a Florida licensed physician or psychologist.
Many diagnoses are covered. Eligible students many have diagnoses, including but not limited to:
Cerebral Palsy
Autism spectrum disorder
Down syndrome
Emotional or a behavioral disability
Hearing impairment, including deafness
Intellectual disability (severe cognitive impairment)
Language impairment
Muscular dystrophy
Specific learning disability
Speech impairment
Spina bifida
Traumatic brain injury
Visual impairment, including blindness
Williams syndrome
Facts About the Family Empowerment Scholarship (Gardiner Scholarship)
Family Empowerment Scholarship funds can be applied to either of the following:
Family Empowerment Scholarship Educational Option -OR-
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities
→ The Florida Department of Education Family Empowerment Scholarship income level is available when the student’s household income level does not exceed 375% of the federal poverty level.
→ Priority is given to scholarship students whose incomes are below the federal poverty level & to families of children in foster care or out-of-home care.
→ Once a student has been awarded the Family Empowerment Scholarship, that student’s siblings also become eligible for the Family Empowerment Scholarships private school scholarship option.