Family Empowerment Scholarship

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

• What would happen to current tuition rates if HCES were to accept scholarships? Would the FES award satisfy student tuition at HCES or would parents be responsible for the difference between tuition and the state award?

  Tuition rates could be significantly impacted. Some participating schools have already increased tuition for families using the state funds by assessing a fee to help cover additional costs created in administering the award. The Family Empowerment Scholarship would not fully satisfy the cost of student tuition at Holy Comforter Episcopal School for 2023-2024. In the 2023-24 school year, the average award amount was $7,950 which would cover approximately 55% of the current HCES tuition. Parents would be responsible for covering the difference between the award amount and the total tuition and would not be eligible for tuition assistance from the school.

• How many vouchers are going to be accepted? Do we have room/space to accommodate? Will it mean that returning students may lose space?

  HCES admission standards would remain unchanged. All new students would still meet our testing, academic, and other admissions requirements. However, class sizes are limited, and currently, many grade levels are already at capacity with active waiting lists, while others have limited spaces available. The school’s policy has always been to offer the option of re-enrollment to current HCES students in good standing before new students are offered a place.

• The scholarship programs are currently months behind in paying vendors, if HCES accepted funds would we be able to operate effectively if funds were 3-6 months behind? Would participation in the programs require that HCES increase administrative staff in order to administer and participate in the program? Would HCES have to change policies or procedures to accommodate outside vendors (therapists) providing student services on campus? How would that also change our security processes/protocols?

  Increased administrative costs required to meet the state’s compliance and reporting standards would be significant. Additional staff would be required to administer the program and while the state’s operating procedures for the scholarship program have been refined, the school’s receipt of funds would be dependent on the distribution processes of the scholarship funding organizations. All areas, including security protocols, would need to be reviewed and might need to change based on state criteria at that time.

• What kind of conditions will the state be able to set for the school should it accept the money? What impacts would there be on the curriculum, teaching methodologies, and testing by accepting these funds?  If you accept funds from the state, what would differentiate HCES from a publicly-funded charter school?

  Ultimately, the Florida Legislature has the authority to revise state-sponsored programs at any time and therefore policies and program mandates may also change. State policies could potentially impact our academic program requiring changes to curriculum, in addition to things like school celebrations and student assessments to name a few.  While our goal is to nurture the unique atmosphere that makes HCES special, and we would continue to work to ensure that our school's distinct character is preserved, it isn’t possible to predict how changes in mandates from the state might impact our school culture.