FAQs
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1. How do I contact the Transportation Department? The Transportation phone number is (863) 485-1500 |
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2. How do I get my child registered on a bus? Contact your child's school or call the Transportation Department. Your child's address will need to be up to date in the Skyward. It could take 24-48 hours to assign your child to a bus route. |
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3. I recently moved and I want to have my child ride the bus today. I do not have transportation to get him/her to and from school, what can I do? You must make sure your personal information, home address, etc. has been changed at the school. A bus cannot be assigned until the correct information shows in Skyward. The school will then inform the Transportation Department that your child needs a bus to the new address. It will take 24-48 hours for the transportation routing software to assign you child to a bus. |
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4. Should I remain at the bus stop if my child's bus is running late? Yes, you should remain at the stop, but call into the Transportation office, at (863) 485-1500 to get a time frame of the pick-up. |
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5. Why is the bus late the first week of school? The buses may run late due to making sure students are on the correct buses, and no students are left behind. |
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6. If my child has left an item, cell phone, lunch, book bag, etc. on the bus how do I get the item returned to my child? You may call the Transportation office at (863) 485-1500 to see if the item has been turned in, or have your child ask for the item the next time that he or she rides. The driver will secure the item on the bus. |
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7. What time should my child be at the bus stop waiting for bus pick-up? You should have your child waiting at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to the scheduled bus pick-up time. |
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8. Why can't I just put my child on a bus that I see stopping in my neighborhood? That bus may be assigned to a different school than your child attends. You will need to call the Transportation Department to get your child's correct bus number and bus stop. |
Where can I find out information on the Family Empowerment Scholarship?
FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP
On March 27, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law House Bill (HB) 1, which expands available school choice options for all students in Florida. As of the 2023-24 school year, the bill eliminates financial eligibility restrictions and the current enrollment cap for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Educational Options. HB 1 also increases the annual scholarship cap growth for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities from one percent to three percent annually to address high demand and wait lists.
With these expansions along with other school choice options, Florida is empowering every family and every child to achieve their educational goals.
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
This branch of the scholarship eligibility provides additional educational options for all K-12 students, such as attending a participating private school. Families apply and annually renew through one of the approved scholarship funding organizations (SFO), which are responsible for determining and distributing funding. FES EO also offers families of eligible students the option to receive a $750 scholarship to provide transportation to a public school different from the school to which the student was assigned.
- Educational Options FAQs (PDF)
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities
This branch of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program is designed to offer families of students with disabilities, as young as 3 years of age, access to additional education options. Families may choose to enroll their student in another public school, or they may choose to take the opportunity to receive a personal education savings account (ESA) for their student. With an ESA, instead of having their child attend a public school, parents receive a deposit of public funds into government-authorized savings accounts with restricted, but multiple, uses. An ESA can be used to fund not only items such as private school tuition and fees, but also online learning programs, private tutoring, community college costs, higher education expenses and other approved customized learning services and materials. Families apply and annually renew for participation in FES UA through one of the approved SFOs, which are responsible for determining eligibility, awarding and distributing funding to eligible student accounts, and approving eligible expenditures.
- Unique Abilities FAQs (PDF)
How do I apply?
You can find information on the fldoe.org website by searching "Family Empowerment Scholarship"
Where can I find information on the Opportunity Scholarship Program?
The Opportunity Scholarship Program was created as a Florida school choice option in 1999. As originally implemented, the program offered students who attended or who were assigned to attend failing public schools the option to choose a higher performing public school or a participating private school.
On January 5, 2006, the Florida Supreme Court issued a ruling declaring the private school option of the Opportunity Scholarship Program unconstitutional. Students assigned to a failing school are no longer offered the opportunity to transfer and enroll in a participating private school. The option to attend a higher performing public school remains in effect.
OSP Eligibility Requirements
A public school student's parent may request and receive from the state an Opportunity Scholarship for the student to enroll in and attend a higher performing public school if:
- By assigned school attendance area or by special assignment, student spent the prior school year in attendance at a public school that has been designated as earning a grade "F" or three consecutive "Ds" as based on the statewide assessments conducted pursuant to Section. 1008.22, Florida Statutes.
- The student has been in attendance elsewhere in the public school system and has been assigned to such school for the next school year; or
- The student has been assigned to such school for the next school year.