The bill amends sections of Florida Statutes related to educational choice, specifically focusing on the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. It mandates that school districts are required to use specified reports and plans of care to complete a matrix of services for nonpublic school students without an Individual Education Plan (IEP), rather than being authorized to do so. Additionally, the bill introduces a definition for "home education instructional program" and outlines the responsibilities of parents in customizing these programs for their children. It also revises the timeline for scholarship renewal applications and establishes new requirements for eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations regarding the management and distribution of scholarship funds.

Key changes include the requirement for school districts to complete the matrix of services within 30 days of a parent's request and the specification that parents are responsible for customizing their child's home education program. The bill also revises the payment schedule for scholarships to occur quarterly and establishes a new timeline for scholarship applications and renewals. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1440 Filed: 1002.394