Funding Mixups with State’s Scholarship Program Leave Private Schools in Jeopardy of Closing
As a new school year is set to begin, some private school owners are worried they may have to close their doors due to funding issues with the state’s scholarship program.
Private School Owners Frustrated with Delayed Funding
Juanita McGhee, the owner of "Brilliant Minds Academy School of the Arts" in Fort Lauderdale, welcomed students last year. However, only a few months into the academic year, she faced a major problem. She enrolled her school in "Step Up for Students," Florida’s main scholarship distributor, but the money never came.
School Owners Max Out Credit Cards to Keep Doors Open
McGhee maxed out her credit cards to keep her school afloat, and she’s not the only one. Ada Gonzalez, director of Cutler Bay Christian Academy, said, "It was a moment of total panic." Tasha Hill, director of Cutler Bay Christian Academy, added, "We’re finding ourselves in a bad situation."
The Problem Began with a Voucher Program Expansion
In 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expanded the school voucher program to include all students, regardless of family income. This resulted in an influx of applications, overwhelming the program and causing delays in processing payments for schools.
Funding Delays Leave Schools in a Precarious Situation
The Florida Coalition for Private Schools was founded by Mary Josephine Walsh, who experienced a similar issue with funding at her school for students with autism. She said, "Most schools are very hopeful that the problems Step Up have demonstrated in the past year have been resolved." However, many schools remain in a precarious situation, with outstanding payments totaling over $100,000 for more than eight months.
Step Up for Students Responds to Fears
Step Up for Students told 7 News it does not expect the same level of delay this year, citing expanded resources to handle the increased demand. However, some private school owners are not convinced, saying the problem persists. Mary Josephine Walsh advised, "If parents are not getting the results they need, then they should look for other options, like the Triple-A scholarships."
Conclusion
With the new school year just around the corner, many private school owners are preparing for the worst. While Step Up for Students claims to have resolved the issues, the worrying trend continues to impact schools and parents. As the situation unfolds, it’s clear that more needs to be done to address the concerns of these affected schools and ensure a smoother funding process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Step Up for Students program?
A: Step Up for Students is a scholarship program in Florida that provides funding to private schools for eligible students.
Q: Why did the funding delays occur?
A: The funding delays occurred due to a surge in applications for the program, resulting in a backlog of payments for schools.
Q: What is the current situation with funding?
A: Many private schools, including those mentioned in this article, are still waiting for payments or have outstanding debts, leaving their financial situations precarious.
Q: What are the options for parents seeking alternative funding?
A: Alternative options, such as Triple-A scholarships, are available for parents who are not satisfied with the results from the Step Up for Students program.
