Latest news with #FamilyEmpowermentScholarshipProgram
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hillsborough County schools facing $18 million budget gap
As school districts across the state anticipate tightened budgets next year, the Hillsborough County School District is facing a more than$18 million shortfall this year due to a lower reported enrollment count and state overspending. During a school board meeting Tuesday, Chief Financial Officer Jamie Lewis told the board that the budget saw an $18.3 million cut during the month of March, though he anticipated some of that money to return within weeks. Lewis pointed to four main reasons why the decrease — news of which which received audible sighs from the board — happened. More than $9 million, he said, was attributable to the change in full-time enrolled students this year. He said that was based on the third survey count of the year, which was delayed due to hurricanes Helene and Milton. A fourth count is expected within a few weeks. In October, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz sent a memo to superintendents offering school districts directly impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton two alternative attendance windows to report. 'We fully anticipate our FTE (full time enrollment) will rebound somewhat, because of the timing, and of course everyone was disrupted and that was in the fall and everything that was going on,' Superintendent Van Ayres said. Another $2 million was related to last year's full time enrollment count, Lewis said, and a little under $3 million could be attributed to readjustments from the county on the amount of money they received from millage, or funding from property taxes. But $4.1 million, Lewis said, was taken back because the state department of education was $231 million over budget and split that cost across districts. 'That's unavoidable,' he said. 'There's nothing we could've done to stop that. All districts were impacted, we did confirm that.' Lewis pointed out that charter schools in Hillsborough County also saw a decrease of $25.1 million after the third count, but the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, the voucher program which grants public funds to families to allow them scholarships for school choice, saw an increase of $19.2 million. Lewis said the district's healthy reserves — currently more than $283 million — will help them cover the cuts. 'We're thankful we have that ability to navigate through this,' he said. Board member Lynn Gray pointed to the colluding factors of absenteeism, a decrease in full-time students, students opting for Florida Virtual School instead of Hillsborough Virtual School and competition from the Family Empowerment Scholarship, which impacts 19,000 students. She asked how big a factor the scholarship program was. 'Are you alluding to the fact that this growth is going to further deteriorate our enrollment?' she asked Lewis. 'It's a great question,' he said. 'I don't know if I'm alluding that, I'm just pointing out that we're seeing that on the numbers that are coming out.' Ayres quickly jumped in, adding that despite the third count, the district was growing. He said the state had projected full-time enrollment would be around 174,000, but the actual count ended up more than 1,000 higher. 'As a school district, we are going above the state's projection, which is a good thing,' he said. 'We're in a better position than some of the surrounding school districts that are seeing a dramatic decline in enrollment. We are not. 'The question becomes which of the 19,000 were never part of Hillsborough Public Schools to begin with?' he said. 'They were never part of our budget to begin with.' Two board members pushed back on the idea that the district was growing. Board member Nadia Combs said that with the number of people moving into Tampa, they should be seeing far greater numbers in schools. She questioned the oversight of the voucher program, which she estimated helped only a small fraction of students able to attend private schools out of financial reach with higher tuition. 'You can get that scholarship and no one can check on you for five years,' she said. 'You could sit at home, you could be that child who could be on lockdown for 30 years. No one's checking on you. No one's checking if you're getting an education.' Board chair Jessica Vaughn said that at many schools, she saw employees being cut due to enrollment, and questioned the narrative of a growing district. 'I think we need to do a better job of making clear to our employees specifically that we're losing that and more money is projected to be lost for next year with trending legislation and what that looks like and what the impact is,' she said. '$18 million for our district is huge.' Vaughn pointed out that much of it was out of their hands. 'The disconnect between what our budget actually looks like when the state comes in and takes back money that we earned for no reason, and the disconnect that we don't need any money, it's confusing to our constituents, it's confusing to our employees, and we need to make sure we have clarity around it,' she said. In an interview, Vaughn said she anticipates next year's budget reductions will be more drastic. She said she worries it could mean fewer educators and support staff in schools. 'You see school districts across the state trying to figure out, with such a drastic reduction within such a short amount of time, what kind of impact that's going to have,' she said.
CBS News
24-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Florida Senate proposes school funding changes
With massive growth in school voucher programs , the Florida Senate has released a plan that, in part, would seek to address funding concerns as students move between schools. The Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee is scheduled Wednesday to take up the bill (SPB 7030), which would make changes affecting public schools and voucher programs. "Over the last few years, we have learned that for the money to truly follow the student, we need better ways to track where students are at key points throughout the school year," Republican Sen. Don Gaetz said in a prepared statement Friday. "We also need to ensure money appropriately follows the student to the family's provider of choice, including when they move back and forth between providers. With input from stakeholders across the spectrum of school choice, this bill creates reasonable timeframes and mechanisms to improve both transparency and efficiency in education funding." The bill, among other things, would create what is known as a "categorical" budget fund for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, a major voucher program. Categorical funds are earmarked for specific programs. Also, the bill would use an "educational enrollment stabilization program" to provide supplemental money to address enrollment changes during the course of the academic year in public schools and voucher programs. "In the new environment of universal choice, where the money follows the student, we know everyone is working diligently to ensure students have access to the educational settings their parents choose," Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Chairman Danny Burgess said. "However, as our choice programs expand, mid-year transitions have proven difficult to keep track of. Additionally, parents with students in the personalized education program and unique abilities program (voucher programs) have been frustrated by the reimbursement process, which can be quite time consuming and at times inefficient. This legislation is about lessons learned over the last few years."
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Senate releases plan to address school funding changes
With a massive growth in school voucher programs, the Florida Senate on Friday released a plan that, in part, would seek to address funding concerns as students move between schools. The Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee is scheduled Wednesday to take up the bill (SPB 7030), which would make changes affecting public schools and voucher programs. 'Over the last few years, we have learned that for the money to truly follow the student, we need better ways to track where students are at key points throughout the school year,' Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who will take a lead on the legislation, said in a prepared statement Friday. 'We also need to ensure money appropriately follows the student to the family's provider of choice, including when they move back and forth between providers. With input from stakeholders across the spectrum of school choice, this bill creates reasonable timeframes and mechanisms to improve both transparency and efficiency in education funding. ' The bill, among other things, would create what is known as a 'categorical' budget fund for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, a major voucher program. Categorical funds are earmarked for specific programs. Also, the bill would use an 'educational enrollment stabilization program' to provide supplemental money to address enrollment changes during the course of the academic year in public schools and voucher programs. 'In the new environment of universal choice, where the money follows the student, we know everyone is working diligently to ensure students have access to the educational settings their parents choose,' Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Chairman Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said. 'However, as our choice programs expand, mid-year transitions have proven difficult to keep track of. Additionally, parents with students in the personalized education program and unique abilities program (voucher programs) have been frustrated by the reimbursement process, which can be quite time consuming and at times inefficient. This legislation is about lessons learned over the last few years.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Senate bill would tweak funding, tracking for school voucher programs
The Brief The Florida Senate has introduced a bill to tweak funding and tracking for school voucher programs. The bill aims to address mid-year transitions and streamline the reimbursement process for families. It will be discussed in the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - With massive growth in school voucher programs, the Florida Senate on Friday released a plan that, in part, would seek to address funding concerns as students move between schools. What we know The Florida Senate has introduced a plan aimed at improving funding for school voucher programs and addressing challenges in tracking students as they move between schools. The bill, known as SPB 7030, is set to be discussed in the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. Key components of the plan include the creation of a "categorical" fund for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program and an "educational enrollment stabilization program" to manage enrollment shifts during the school year. These measures are designed to improve transparency, efficiency, and ensure funding follows students properly. What we don't know While the bill addresses funding concerns and aims to improve the tracking of students, it is unclear how the implementation of these changes will affect the overall funding of public schools and voucher programs. The bill also does not outline specific guidelines for how the new systems will be enforced or monitored over the long term. Additionally, it's uncertain how much flexibility will be given to families who experience mid-year transitions, particularly in relation to voucher reimbursements. The backstory Florida's school voucher programs, including the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, have expanded significantly in recent years, leading to challenges in managing funding and student enrollment. The state has been grappling with how to ensure that money allocated for education follows the student as they transition between schools. Past issues with the reimbursement process for voucher programs have led to frustration among parents. The new bill is a response to these concerns and aims to refine the tracking and funding mechanisms. Big picture view The push for expanded school choice in Florida has garnered significant attention, with some praising the flexibility it offers families, while others express concerns about the impact on public schools. As Florida continues to move toward universal school choice, there is a growing need for a more efficient system that balances funding allocation and student mobility. The changes proposed in SPB 7030 are part of the state's broader education reform efforts, which are likely to continue shaping the landscape of public and private schooling in Florida. What they're saying The Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee is scheduled Wednesday to take up the bill (SPB 7030), which would make changes affecting public schools and voucher programs. "Over the last few years, we have learned that for the money to truly follow the student, we need better ways to track where students are at key points throughout the school year," Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who will take a lead on the legislation, said in a prepared statement Friday. "We also need to ensure money appropriately follows the student to the family's provider of choice, including when they move back and forth between providers. With input from stakeholders across the spectrum of school choice, this bill creates reasonable timeframes and mechanisms to improve both transparency and efficiency in education funding." "In the new environment of universal choice, where the money follows the student, we know everyone is working diligently to ensure students have access to the educational settings their parents choose," Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Chairman Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said. "However, as our choice programs expand, mid-year transitions have proven difficult to keep track of. Additionally, parents with students in the personalized education program and unique abilities program (voucher programs) have been frustrated by the reimbursement process, which can be quite time consuming and at times inefficient. This legislation is about lessons learned over the last few years." What's next The Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee will review SPB 7030 on Wednesday. If the bill moves forward, it will likely undergo further scrutiny and potential revisions before being voted on. The outcome of this bill could significantly affect the future of voucher programs and public school funding in Florida. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by The News Service of Florida.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Senate proposes plan to enhance funding transparency in school voucher programs
With massive growth in school voucher programs, the Florida Senate on Friday released a plan that, in part, would seek to address funding concerns as students move between schools. The Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee is scheduled Wednesday to take up the bill (SPB 7030), which would make changes affecting public schools and voucher programs. 'Over the last few years, we have learned that for the money to truly follow the student, we need better ways to track where students are at key points throughout the school year,' Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who will take a lead on the legislation, said in a prepared statement Friday. 'We also need to ensure money appropriately follows the student to the family's provider of choice, including when they move back and forth between providers. With input from stakeholders across the spectrum of school choice, this bill creates reasonable timeframes and mechanisms to improve both transparency and efficiency in education funding.' The bill, among other things, would create what is known as a 'categorical' budget fund for the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, a major voucher program. Categorical funds are earmarked for specific programs. Also, the bill would use an 'educational enrollment stabilization program' to provide supplemental money to address enrollment changes during the course of the academic year in public schools and voucher programs. 'In the new environment of universal choice, where the money follows the student, we know everyone is working diligently to ensure students have access to the educational settings their parents choose,' Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Chairman Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said. 'However, as our choice programs expand, mid-year transitions have proven difficult to keep track of. Additionally, parents with students in the personalized education program and unique abilities program (voucher programs) have been frustrated by the reimbursement process, which can be quite time consuming and at times inefficient. This legislation is about lessons learned over the last few years.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
