No. CS/SB 318
Filed under Education.
Educational Scholarship Programs; Creating a categorical fund for implementing the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program; creating the educational enrollment stabilization program to provide supplemental state funds to address changes in full-time equivalent student enrollment; renaming the Hope Scholarship Program as the Hope Program; requiring an eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization to provide a parent with certain information on scholarship programs; requiring an eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization to create a single application for all educational scholarship programs, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThe bill creates a dedicated state fund for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. It also establishes a new program to provide supplemental state funds to public school districts and scholarship programs when enrollment changes cause funding shortfalls during the school year.
It mandates a single electronic application for all educational scholarship programs. Organizations must provide parents with detailed program information to facilitate informed decision-making. The bill establishes specific deadlines for fall and spring scholarship terms, creating a structured timeline for student enrollment and funding.
It requires organizations to prioritize scholarship awards for students from low-income households or in foster care. It prevents organizations from restricting scholarships to particular private schools or awarding them to relatives of school owners. It prohibits private schools from being owned or controlled by foreign countries of concern.
It grants the Commissioner authority to suspend or revoke participation for students, organizations, and providers. The Commissioner may also recover unexpended funds. These enforcement powers apply to all educational scholarship programs established under the chapter.
AICreates a dedicated state fund to pay for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, with quarterly disbursements to the administering nonprofit based on student enrollment forecasts.
AICreates a new program to provide supplemental state funds to public school districts and scholarship programs when enrollment changes cause funding shortfalls during the school year.
AIMandates a unified application process and requires organizations to provide parents with detailed program information to facilitate informed decision-making.
AIEstablishes specific deadlines for fall and spring scholarship terms, creating a structured timeline for student enrollment and funding.
AIRequires organizations to prioritize scholarship awards for students from low-income households or in foster care, ensuring equitable access to funds.
AIPrevents organizations from restricting scholarships to particular private schools or awarding them to relatives of school owners, promoting competition and preventing conflicts of interest.
AIProhibits private schools from being owned or controlled by foreign countries of concern, allowing immediate suspension of funds.
AIGrants the Commissioner authority to suspend or revoke participation for students, organizations, and providers, and recover unexpended funds.