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LCCL accepts the McKay scholarship & Step Up For Students!

Lighthouse is approved by the Florida Department of Education to accept two different types of scholarships to attend our private school.

The first is named the McKay scholarship and those children who attended a public school the previous year and had an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in place are eligible. Follow the link to the left titled McKay and begin filling out your intent to participate. Once you have filed your intent form, the information will be verified by the Department of Education and you will soon be notified, by email, of your scholarship amount. Among the schools accepting the McKay scholarship in Hillsborough county, our school offers a specialized program for ADHD and Autism. The McKay scholarship for private school can cover most, if not all, of your expenses.

McKay Scholarship Alert for Students currently on a 504 Accommodation Plan: You have a 3 day Window to apply for the McKay Scholarship. A new law is effective July 1, 2011 and the deadline for applying for the full year scholarship is July 3! Students on a 504 will receive the level one scholarship amount. Temporary 504 plans are not eligible. Questions? Call us OR call the McKay parent hot line at 1-800-447-1636.

The second scholarship we take is named Step-up for Students. What is the Step Up For Students Program?

Step Up For Students is an initiative of the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship Program. The innovative program provides K-12 education scholarships for qualifying low-income students who are entering kindergarten or first grade or attended public school the previous year. The scholarships give low-income parents the opportunity to choose the K-12 school that best meets their children's needs. The scholarships cover up to $4,011 for private school tuition and books or up to $500 in transportation costs to an out-of-district public school.

You may qualify for a scholarship if:

• Your child is entering 2nd through 12th grade and attended a Florida public school for the entire previous school year OR is entering Kindergarten or 1st grade.
• AND Your household income is at or below a certain amount. For more information and financial guidelines requirements, please call 1-877-735-7837.

If you have any questions about either scholarship, you may reach us at (813) 655-6505 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ATTENTION!!! THIS WAS JUST SENT TO ME 03/09/2012

I was just informed by our Policy and Public Affairs office that HB 859 just passed the Florida Senate on a 32-8 vote.
This is what it means:

·         The cap next year will increase to $229-million.
·         Students entering in K-5 will not have to attend a public school the prior year.
·         FTC schools can request to administer the FCAT to all their students.
·         All norm-referenced test results must now be submitted to Dr. Figlio by no later than Aug. 15 each year.
·         The education commissioner can suspend or revoke a school with “a previous pattern of failure to comply” with state regulations.

The next step for this bill get to the governor for his signature, because it will become law once it is signed. One further note: We expect the Legislature to adopt the budget as is today and for the governor ultimately to sign it, bringing us a maximum scholarship next year of $4,335.

BELOW  ARE THE RESULTS OF THE VOTE:

Please know that Senators Smith, Braynon, Sachs and Margolis all voted no.  Please reach out to them RESPECTFULLY,     especially Sen. Smith and Sen. Braynon, to let them know of your disappointment     in them.  They can’t get a pass for     their NO VOTE.  Again, respectfully please…

Presiding - President Haridopolos
Y         Alexander-17
Y         Gaetz-4
N         Rich-34
Y         Altman-24
Y         Garcia-40
Y         Richter-37
Y         Benacquisto-27
Y         Gardiner-9
Y         Ring-32
Y         Bennett-21
N         Gibson-1
N         Sachs-30
Y         Bogdanoff-25
Y         Hays-20
Y         Simmons-22
N         Braynon-33
Y         Jones-13
Y         Siplin-19
Y         Bullard-39
N         Joyner-18
N         Smith-29
Y         Dean-3
Y         Latvala-16
N         Sobel-31
Y         Detert-23
Y         Lynn-7
Y         Storms-10
Y         Diaz de la Portilla-36
N         Margolis-35
Y         Thrasher-8
Y         Dockery-15
Y         Montford-6
Y         Wise-5
Y         Evers-2
Y         Negron-28
Y         President Haridopolos-26
Y         Fasano-11
Y         Norman-12
Y         Flores-38
Y         Oelrich-14

Sequence: 35
The Florida Senate
Date:     03/09/2012
Session     Day: 60
2012     Regular Session
Time:     02:20 PM
Calendar Page: 12
CS/CS/CS/HB 859
Third     Reading
Yeas     - 32
Nays     - 8
Not Voting - 0