THE BILL ITSELF
SB 690
Family Empowerment Scholarship Program
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 690 By Senator Jones 34-00255A-26 2026690__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to the Family Empowerment Scholarship
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Program; amending s. 1002.394, F.S.; requiring a
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private school participating in the Family Empowerment
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Scholarship Program to provide specified information
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in writing to certain parents before a student’s
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initial enrollment in the school; providing private
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school requirements relating to certain services;
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providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of section
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1002.394, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.—
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(9) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS.—To be
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eligible to participate in the Family Empowerment Scholarship
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Program, a private school may be sectarian or nonsectarian and
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must:
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(d) Before a student’s initial enrollment, provide to the
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parent in writing For a student determined eligible pursuant to
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paragraph (3)(b), discuss the school’s academic programs and
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policies, specialized services, code of conduct, and attendance
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policies , and specialized services and therapies offered at the
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school. A private school may update the specialized services and
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therapies offered once per school year or if the school district
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updates its list of equitable services offered, whichever comes
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first. In addition, within 30 days after the school district
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provides the student with a private school services plan, each
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parent of a student with an individualized education plan,
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education plan, English language learner plan, or 504 plan must
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be informed of what modifications, accommodations, and therapies
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included in the student’s plan will be honored before enrollment
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with the parent to determine which programs and services may
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meet the student’s individual needs .
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If a private school fails to meet the requirements of this
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subsection or s. 1002.421, the commissioner may determine that
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the private school is ineligible to participate in the
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scholarship program.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.