FTC FES-EO Purchasing Guide 2023-24

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 13

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options

Purchasing Guide 2023-24

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 2
PURCHASING POLICIES ............................................................................................................................. 2
GENERAL PURCHASING PROVISIONS....................................................................................................... 2
ELIGIBLE EXPENSE CATEGORIES ................................................................................................................... 3
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ................................................................................................................... 3
Digital Materials ................................................................................................................................... 3
Stand-Alone Online Class ..................................................................................................................... 3
Internet Resources ............................................................................................................................... 3
Physical Education ................................................................................................................................ 3
Books .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Musical Instruments & Equipment ...................................................................................................... 4
Electives ................................................................................................................................................ 4
Field Trips.............................................................................................................................................. 5
At Home Classroom Furnishings .......................................................................................................... 6
School Supplies ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Learning Manipulatives/Creative Play Items ...................................................................................... 7
Educational Subscription Kits .............................................................................................................. 7
Educational Software/Subscriptions ................................................................................................... 7
CURRICULUM ............................................................................................................................................ 8
TUITION AND FEES ................................................................................................................................... 8
Tuition and Fees at an Eligible Private School ..................................................................................... 8
Tuition and Fees for Home Education Instructional Programs for Personalized Education Program
(PEP) Students ...................................................................................................................................... 9
Tuition and Fees at an Eligible Postsecondary Institution .................................................................. 9
Tuition and Fees for an Approved Preapprenticeship Program ....................................................... 10
Tuition and Fees for a Private Tutoring Program .............................................................................. 10
Tuition and Fees at an Approved Online or Virtual Provider ........................................................... 11
Tuition and Fees as a Private-Pay Student for Florida Virtual School .............................................. 11
STANDARDIZED TESTING FEES ............................................................................................................... 12
CONTRACTED SERVICES PROVIDED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT ............................... 12
PART-TIME TUTORING AND CHOICE NAVIGATOR SERVICES ................................................................ 12
REVIEW ................................................................................................................................................... 13

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 1


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options Purchasing
Guide

INTRODUCTION
Florida state law now requires Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFOs) to prepare a purchasing guide
for scholarship students’ guardians and update this guide at least annually.

PURCHASING POLICIES
As per Florida Statutes ss. 1002.394 & 1002.395 Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
(FES-EO) and Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship (including Personalized Education Program (PEP)) funds
must be used to meet the educational needs of an eligible student. Using a student’s scholarship funds
for other purposes is a crime. For example, purchasing a product with scholarship funds, returning that
product, and then spending the returned funds on items that do not meet the educational needs of the
scholarship student is illegal. Please contact your Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) if you have
questions about the legality of a financial transaction using scholarship funds prior to engaging in this
transaction.

SFOs may require guardians to use an online platform for purchases provided their choice of curriculum
or academic programs is not limited. SFOs may also reimburse guardians for their purchase of eligible
products or services that meet their student’s educational needs. Please verify with your SFO that a
purchase is eligible for reimbursement before making the purchase. If a guardian purchases a product
identical to one offered by an SFO's online platform for a lower price, the SFO is required by law to
reimburse the guardian for the cost of the purchase.

Per Florida Statute s. 1000.21(5), “Parent” means either or both parents of a student, any guardian of a
student, any person in a parental relationship to a student, or any person exercising supervisory authority
over a student in place of the parent. For the purposes of the Purchasing Guide, the term “Guardian” will
be used to include all eligible parents and guardians above who manage an ESA account for an eligible
FTC, PEP, or FES-EO student.

GENERAL PURCHASING PROVISIONS


Product Safety: For safety reasons, SFOs review manufacturers’ recommended minimum age use when
determining if an education product is appropriate for a student.
Monetary Benefit: A family may not receive a payment, refund, or rebate of scholarship funds from a
vendor.
Out-of-State Service Providers: With the exception of credentialed providers whose services may be
delivered virtually (e.g., tutors, Choice Navigators), services must be delivered in Florida.
Purchase Location: Purchases made online through the direct buying platform must be shipped to the
Florida residential address associated with the student’s scholarship account.
Prorating Payments for Multi-User Items: Other family members often use products purchased with
scholarship funds. Consequently, funding for these multi-user items is prorated to only cover the
scholarship student’s cost.
Public Schools Equivalency: Whether a product or service is available in public schools helps SFOs
determine whether an item may be purchased with scholarship funds.

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 2


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

Pre-Authorizations:
• The Pre-Authorization process may be used to determine the eligibility of a purchase prior to
spending funds.
• In some categories, Pre-Authorization is required.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSE CATEGORIES


FTC/FES-EO scholarship funds may be used to purchase educational products and services in legislatively
defined categories outlined in Florida Statute s. 1002.394(4)(b). Spending limits and frequency of purchase
policies are listed below by item and category.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Eligible instructional materials include:

Digital Materials
Scholarship funds may be used to purchase digital material such as CDs, DVDs, and digital
documents.

Annual Digital Materials Categorical Spending Cap: $750

Stand-Alone Online Class


Guardians may purchase online courses that are appropriate for their scholarship student.
Scholarship funds may not be used to pay for full-time online instruction. A stand-alone online
class does not permit live, interactive instruction.

Internet Resources
Guardians may use scholarship funds to pay for in-home internet services at the Florida
residential address associated with their student’s scholarship application. Modem or router
rental from the internet service provider and billed with a monthly internet service is also
eligible.

Annual Internet Resources Categorical Spending Cap: $900

Physical Education
Authorized P.E. expenses include sports lessons, fees, or equipment (subject to manufacturer’s
age recommendations), including:
 Home Playsets/Swing sets (including rubber mulch or safety materials)
 Exercise Equipment (including stationary bikes, treadmills/walking pads, weight benches)
 Ping Pong Tables/Table Sports (Ping Pong, Basketball Shooting Games, Foosball Tables, Air
Hockey)
 Sports lessons (including individual training or group trainings)
 Sports Equipment (balls, basketball goals, racquets, etc.)
 Team fees (including registration, equipment rental, and competition fees)
 Stand-Alone Athletic Event Fees (including foot or bike race registrations, endurance events,
Special Olympics Registrations)
 Gym/fitness memberships or “Class Passes” (for the student only), including on demand
fitness classes.
Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 3
Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

 Individual trampolines
 Swim goggles, snorkels, masks, fins
 Skateboards
 Kayaks, Canoes, Surfboards, Boogieboards, Skim boards, Stand-Up Paddleboards

Annual P.E. Equipment or Fees Categorical Spending Cap: $3,000 (piece of equipment will be
reimbursed up to $1,000). There is no annual spending cap on Sports Lessons.
Frequency of Purchase: 2 years (for equipment only)

Note: Adaptive exercise equipment is eligible with Pre-Authorization.

Prohibited Items:
 Motorized equipment (treadmills or walking pads are eligible)
 Trampolines (individual exercise trampolines are eligible)
 Motorized Boats
 Motorized scooters or ride-ons (including golf carts)
 In-Ground or Above Ground Swimming Pools
 Single-admission leisure events (including equipment rental)
 Activities occurring outside of the state of Florida that are not Pre-Authorization
 Pool Tables

Books
Books with content that may pose a threat to the student or others or promote violence or
criminal behavior are ineligible for purchase.

Eligible books are neither capped in annual spending nor subject to frequency of purchase.
However, requests for multiple copies of the same book will be denied.

Musical Instruments & Equipment

Annual Musical Instrument & Equipment Categorical Spending Cap: $3,000


Frequency of Purchase: 4 years per item

Prohibited Expenses: Maintenance, tuning, insurance or service agreements and repair of


instruments.

Electives
Lessons, equipment, or consumables generally associated with elective or enrichment (non-core
academic subjects), may be purchased, including:
 Music Lessons
 Art Lessons
 Art Supplies (including subscription kits)
 Club Fees (such as Boy/Girl Scouts, and 4H/FFA Clubs)
 Cooking Lessons
 Cooking Supplies (including subscription kits)

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 4


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

 Drama Lessons
 Foreign Language Lessons
 Sewing Lessons
 Sewing Supplies
 Animal Husbandry Lessons or Training Programs
 Animal Husbandry Supplies
 Woodworking/Building Lessons or Training Programs
 Woodworking/Building Supplies (tools must satisfy manufacturer age recommendations)
 Mechanical Lessons or Training Programs
 Gardening or Horticultural Lessons or Training Programs
 Garden Supplies (tools must satisfy manufacturer age recommendations)
 Safety items (including protective gloves and goggles)
 Programming/Digital Production Lessons
 Enrichment Classes/Courses

Eligible providers for enrichment or elective subjects should have one of the following:
 A valid or expired Florida educator’s certificate.
 At least 3 years of experience in the relevant subject area as demonstrated by employment
records.
 Currently enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution as a student of the relevant
subject area.
 A degree from a postsecondary educational institution in the relevant subject area.
 A certification or national accreditation in the relevant subject area.

Annual Electives Categorical Spending Cap: $2,000


Frequency of Purchase: 1 year for supplies; 2 years for equipment

Prohibited Items:
 Commercial-Grade Tools/Equipment

These reimbursements requests must be accompanied by educational benefit documentation


(standardized form will be provided)

Field Trips
The following items are eligible for student admission only. Family admissions reimbursements
will be prorated to cover only the student’s cost. A student’s ticket price must be age appropriate.
Tickets or admission must be purchased directly from the venue/vendor. Secondary market or
resale tickets are not reimbursable.

 Museum Admission
 Programs or Events at Museums
 Museum or Library Memberships
 Ticketed Events (including plays, musicals, or orchestral performances)
 Admission to Cultural Programming Events or Facilities
 Admission to a Florida theme park

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 5


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

 School Field Trips fees paid to an Eligible Private School

Annual Field Trip Categorical Spending Cap: $500


Frequency of Purchase: None

These reimbursements requests must be accompanied by educational benefit documentation


(standardized form is provided)

At Home Classroom Furnishings


Furnishing used to create an at-home classroom are eligible expenses, including:
 Desk (age/size appropriate)
 Chair (age/size appropriate)
 Storage (including bookshelves and storage or organization containers)
 Architect/Drafting Table (age/size appropriate)
 Picnic Table
 Televisions (up to 55”)
 Indoor Projector
 Standing or Drop-Down Screens
 Whiteboards
 Rugs or Foam Tiles
 Maps/Globes/Atlases
 Bulletin Boards
 Timers/Clocks
 Educational Posters/Visual Supports

Annual Classroom Furnishings Categorical Spending Cap: $2,000 (Adaptive furnishings, or


furniture that may be medically necessary for a student, may be eligible and exceed annual
spending cap with Pre-Authorization.)
Frequency of Purchase: 2 years for furniture, or televisions/projectors

Prohibited Items:
 Multiples of an item type

School Supplies
School supplies generally found or required in classrooms may be purchased, including:
 Writing Utensils
 Crayons/Colored Pencils/Markers
 Math tools (Abacus/Compasses/Protractors/Rulers)
 Tape/Paperclips/Staplers
 Calculators
 Paper
 Notebooks/Folders/Binders
 Planners/Organizers
 Bookbags (Backpacks, Tote Bag, Messenger Bags)
 Lunchboxes

Annual School Supplies Categorical Spending Cap: $500

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 6


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

Frequency of Purchase: None

Learning Manipulatives/Creative Play Items


Eligible items utilized for tactile learning, academic practice, or creative play including:
 Legos
 Dolls (and accessories)
 Stuffed Animals
 Blocks
 Dominoes/Marbles
 Puzzles
 Board/Card Games
 Chess/Checker Sets
 Dress Up Clothing
 Play Kitchens
 Water Tables

Annual Learning Manipulatives/Creative Play Categorical Spending Cap: $400


Frequency of Purchase: None

Games or puzzles with content that may pose a threat to the student or others or that
promote violence or criminal behavior are ineligible for purchase.

Educational Subscription Kits


Educational Subscription Kits curated and mailed to the home by a kit company are eligible for
reimbursement. Subscriptions must be age and size appropriate.

Annual Educational Subscription Kit Categorical Spending Cap: $2,000

Frequency of Purchase: None

Educational Software/Subscriptions
The following items are eligible for single use/student pricing only. Reimbursements for multi-
user access subscriptions will be prorated to only cover the student’s cost.

Eligible Expenses
 Software Subscriptions (Word Processing, Microsoft Office, Adobe, Video or Music Editing
Software, LexisNexis, QuickBooks)
 Magazine Subscription
 Newspaper subscription

Prohibited Expenses
 Video/TV/Online Streaming Services
 Musical Streaming Services
 In-Game Purchases or Credits
 Live Television
 Social Media (except LinkedIn Learning for Students)

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 7


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

CURRICULUM
State policy defines curriculum as a complete course of study for a particular content area or grade level,
including any required supplemental materials, teachers’ manuals, and associated online instruction.

For the purposes of this section, a complete course of study may include postsecondary programs aimed
at career readiness or trade certification.

Guardians may choose to submit a Pre-Authorization to determine expense eligibility prior to purchasing
a curriculum.

Curricula must be publicly available for SFOs to determine eligibility. Curricula that poses a safety threat
to the student or others will not be approved.

TUITION AND FEES

Tuition and Fees at an Eligible Private School


Tuition and fees at an eligible private school may be covered by FTC/FES-EO funds, with the exception of
full-time tuition which is not an eligible expense for FTC-PEP students.

Not all private schools are eligible to participate. Schools must meet state eligibility criteria and elect to
participate in the FTC/FES-EO program with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). A list of schools
eligible to serve scholarship students can be found at the Florida Private Schools Directory.

The agreed upon amount of tuition and fees for each student is a contractual agreement between the
guardian and their eligible private school. We recommend guardians communicate with their preferred
private school about what is required before enrolling their student. For students utilizing the private
school option for these scholarships, the SFO is obligated to commit funds on behalf of the student for
tuition and fees for which the parent is responsible for payment at the private school before using
scholarship funds for additional uses.

Eligible Fees:
 Application Fees (payable in the Fiscal Year preceding the academic year)
 Registration Fees (payable in the Fiscal Year preceding the academic year)
 Uniform Fees (basic uniform pieces purchased from a school-required vendor; shoes and
accessories are not eligible).
 Book Fees
 Technology Fees
 Test Fees
 Athletics and Club Fees
 Graduation Fees

Prohibited Fees:
 Fundraising Fees/Donation Fees/Volunteer Waiver Fees
 Annual Funds
 Giving Funds

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 8


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

 Therapies or services as fees (Credentialed Services including tutoring and therapies should be
billed in their categories)
 Costs associated with scholarship management
 Optional Fees

NOTE: Field Trip Fees at an Eligible Private School are reimbursable to the guardian under the Instructional
Materials – Field Trip expense category.

Tuition and Fees for Home Education Instructional Programs for Personalized Education Program (PEP)
Students
A “Personalized Education Program” means the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed
by his or her parent in order to satisfy the attendance requirements of ss. 1003.01(13), and 1003.21(1)
while registered with an eligible nonprofit scholarship funding-organization pursuant to s. 1002.395.

FTC-PEP scholarship funds may be used to pay tuition and fees for programs, courses, or classes offered
to PEP students. These services must be part of the student’s sequential instruction per the definition of
a PEP student.

“Parent” is either or both parents of a student, any guardian of a student, any person in a parental
relationship to a student, or any person exercising supervisory authority over a student in place of the
parent (s. 1000.21(5)).

The following considerations apply when determining whether a program is an eligible home education
instructional program tuition & fee expense. Eligible programs must:

• Be a program selected by the parent as a part of their PEP student’s parent-directed instruction.
(Programs may not be full-time or full-time equivalent). Private schools, virtual schools, and public
or charter schools are not considered home education program.
• Provide courses and/or activities for PEP students that enhance or enrich the child’s learning
opportunities.
• Have publicly available/reviewable program descriptions of courses and/or activities.
• Have a published tuition & fee schedule.
• Be in a non-residential physical location (cannot be in a home) and
• Be a business organization (tuition and fees may not be payable to an individual).

Full-time education is not eligible for payment under a Home Education Instructional Program and must
be considered under the Eligible Private School or the group Full-Time tutoring.

Tuition and Fees at an Eligible Postsecondary Institution


Tuition and fees required for enrollment at an eligible postsecondary institution, or a program offered by
an eligible postsecondary institution, are covered by FTC/FES-EO funds.

Eligible postsecondary institutions include:


 A Florida College System institution
 A state university
 A school district technical center
 A school district adult general education center

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 9


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

 An independent college or university that is eligible to participate in the William L Boyd, IV


Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program under s. 1009.89
 An accredited independent postsecondary educational institution, as defined in s. 1005.02, which
is licensed to operate in the state of Florida

Tuition and fee schedules must be published and made publicly available.

Tuition and Fees for an Approved Preapprenticeship Program


Tuition and fees for an organized course of instruction designed to prepare a person 16 years of age or
older to become an apprentice in a course approved by and registered with the department and
sponsored by a registered apprenticeship program under s. 446.042.

Tuition and fee schedules must be published and made publicly available.

Tuition and Fees for a Private Tutoring Program


Tuition and fees required for enrollment in an eligible Private Tutoring Program, authorized under s.
1002.43 are covered by FTC/FES-EO funds.

Requirements for approved Private Full-Time Tutors include:


 The tutor must hold a current, valid Florida teaching certificate for the subject or grade level in
which they will tutor
 For grades K-3, full-time tutoring is considered 720 hours per school year
 For grades 4-12, full-time tutoring is considered 900 hours (equivalent to 180 teaching days)
 A tutor seeking to provide services must certify compliance with relevant statutes, including
attendance requirements, and file annually a W9 form with the appropriate Scholarship Funding
Organization prior to the receipt of education savings account funds (ESA), and then annually
thereafter. The FLDOE may institute a standardized compliance form.

A full-time private tutor receiving ESA funds may not serve more than 5 students at one time. However, a
full-time private tutor may provide tutoring for up to 25 students if the following facility requirements are
satisfied:

Private tutoring may be provided for up to students in any commercial building with a valid
certificate of occupancy, library, community service, museum, performing arts, theatre, cinema,
or church facility; in any facility or on any land owned by a Florida College System institution or
university; in any similar public institution facility; and in any facility recently used to house a
school or child care facility licensed under s. 402.305 within the preexisting zoning and land use
designations of the facility without obtaining a special exception, rezoning, or a land use change
so long as the provision of such tutoring meets all applicable state and local health, safety, and
welfare laws, codes, and rules, including those pertaining to fire safety and building safety.

Tuition and fee schedules must be published and made publicly available.

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 10


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

Tuition and Fees at an Approved Online or Virtual Provider


Tuition and fees required for enrollment at an eligible or approved online or virtual provider are covered
by FTC/FES-EO funds.

Approved Online or Virtual Providers include:


 An approved private online provider under s. 1002.45(2)(a), F.S.
 A program offered by the Florida Virtual School in which the eligible student is enrolled as a
private paying student. (Note: If a student is enrolled in FLVS as a public-school student the
student will be considered a public-school student and will be ineligible for a Family
Empowerment Scholarship)
 An approved online course offered pursuant to ss. 1003.499 or 1004.0961, F.S.
 A private virtual school that meets the requirements of s. 1002.421, F.S.

The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) has approval authority for these funding categories. The
FLDOE may publish or maintain a list of approved online or virtual providers pursuant to the above
statutory authority.

FLDOE Approved Online Course Providers


 Accelerate Education (Grades K-5 for 2022-23)
 Apex Learning (Grades 9-12 for 2022-23)
 EdisonLearning (Grades 6-12 for 2022-23 to 2024-25)
 eDynamic Learning ULC (Grades 6-12 for 2022-23)
 Founders Education LLC (Grades 9-12 for 2022-23)
 Grade Results, Inc. (Grades K-12 for 2022-23 to 2023-24)
 My Virtual Academy (Grades 9-12)
 National Highway Safety Administration (Grades 9-12)

FLDOE Approved Virtual Instruction Program (VIP) Providers


 Accel Schools East (Grades K-12 for 2022-23)
 Connections Education of Florida, LLC (Grades K-12 for 2018-19 to 2024-25)
 Edgenuity (Grades 6-12 for 2018-19 to 2024-25)
 Edmentum (Grades 6-12 for 2020-21 to 2022-23)
 Graduation Alliance (Grades 9-12 for 2022-23)
 K12 Florida (Grades K-12 for 2018-19 to 2024-25)
 Mater Virtual Academy (Grades 6-12 for 2020-21 to 2023-24)
 Optima Domi (Grades K-8 for 2022-23) Rev. 07--2022
 Somerset Virtual Academy (Grades 6-12 for2018-19 to 2023-24)

Tuition and Fees as a Private-Pay Student for Florida Virtual School


Tuition and fees required for enrollment as a private-pay student at Florida Virtual School (FLVS) are
covered by FTC/FES-EO funds.

Students utilizing Florida Virtual School (FLVS) must be enrolled as a private-pay student. FLVS will submit
reimbursement requests to Step Up For Students, which must be approved by the guardian prior to
payment being released. If a student is enrolled in FLVS and funded as a public-school student, the student
may lose eligibility and funding for FTC/FES-EO scholarship.

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 11


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

Tuition and fee schedules must be published and made publicly available.

STANDARDIZED TESTING FEES


Fees associated with standardized testing or examinations are covered by FTC/FES-EO funds.

Approved standardized testing or assessments include:


 Nationally standardized, norm-referenced assessments
 Advanced Placement (AP) examinations
 Industry certification examinations
 Assessments related to postsecondary education.
 Other assessments as outlined in the scholarship Purchasing Guide

CONTRACTED SERVICES PROVIDED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT


Contracted services provided by a public district or charter school, or school district are covered by
FTC/FES-EO funds.

A scholarship recipient may take courses, participate in programming (including after school,
extracurricular, supplemental, or summer school programs) or receive services from a public school
(including charter schools and the Florida Virtual School), if the student contracts for classes/services on
a private pay basis.

The guardian can pay for services and request reimbursement, or the school district can choose to be
paid directly as a provider.
There is no requirement for public district or charter schools, or school districts, to contract for services
with a scholarship participant or to set up an account for payment as a provider. Participation is optional
for the public schools and/or districts.
A student who receives contracted services under this paragraph is not considered enrolled in a public
school for scholarship eligibility purposes. However, if the district reports the student for any FTE funding
or other state funding, the student will be ineligible for the Family Empowerment Scholarship.

PART-TIME TUTORING AND CHOICE NAVIGATOR SERVICES


Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring or fees for Choice Navigator services are covered by FTC/FES-EO
funds.

Part-time tutoring includes tuition and fees for services provided by a person who:
 Holds a valid Florida educator's certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, F.S.;
 Holds an adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s. 1012.57, F.S.;
 Has a bachelor's degree or a graduate degree in the subject area in which instruction is given;
 Is certified by a nationally or internationally recognized research-based training program as
approved by the department; or
 Has demonstrated a mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to s. 1012.56(5), F.S. by one of
the following ways:

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 12


Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Purchasing Guide 2023-24

• For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree for which a Florida subject area
examination has been developed, achievement of a passing score on the Florida-
developed subject area examination specified in state board rule;
• For a subject for which a Florida subject area examination has not been developed,
achievement of a passing score on a standardized examination specified in state board
rule, including, but not limited to, passing scores on both the oral proficiency and written
proficiency examinations administered by the American Council on the Teaching of
Foreign Languages;
• For a subject for which a Florida subject area examination has not been developed or a
standardized examination has not been specified in state board rule, completion of the
subject area specialization requirements specified in state board rule and verification of
the attainment of the essential subject matter competencies by the district school
superintendent of the employing school district or chief administrative officer of the
employing state-supported or private school;
• For a subject requiring a master's or higher degree, completion of the subject area
specialization requirements specified in state board rule and achievement of a passing
score on the Florida-developed subject area examination or a standardized examination
that is directly related to the subject specified in state board rule;
• Documentation of successful completion of a United States Defense Language Institute
Foreign Language Center program;
• Documentation of a passing score on the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT); or
• For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree for which a Florida subject area
examination has been developed, documentation of receipt of a master's or higher
degree from an accredited postsecondary educational institution that the Department of
Education has identified as having a quality program resulting in a baccalaureate degree
or higher in the certificate subject area as identified by state board rule.

Tuition and fee schedules must be published and made publicly available.

A “Choice Navigator” means an individual who meets the credentialing requirements of a Part-Time Tutor
(above) and who provides consultations, at a mutually agreed upon location, on the selection of,
application for, and enrollment in educational options addressing the academic needs of a student;
curriculum selection; and advice on career and postsecondary education opportunities. A Choice
Navigator may not oversee or exercise control over the curricula or academic programs of a student.

Fee schedules must be published and made publicly available.

REVIEW
Step Up For Students has placed a feedback form on our website where guardians may submit suggestions
for improving this Purchasing Guide. Step Up will periodically review these suggestions and implement
improvements when appropriate.

Effective 07/01/2023 Step Up For Students 13

You might also like