Gardiner Scholarship: Funding Opportunities for Florida Students with Unique Abilities

The Gardiner Scholarship Program, formerly known as the Personal Learning Scholarship Account (PLSA), was a program that provides eligible Florida children with special needs an opportunity to receive an education savings account (ESA) funded by the state and administered by an approved scholarship-funding organization (SFO). The program was established in 2014 to give parents the option to better meet the individual needs of their eligible children.

The Gardiner Scholarship Program was designed to help families with children who have certain special needs, such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other diagnoses. The program provides parents with the flexibility to customize their child’s education by allowing them to use the funds for a variety of educational services and products. With the funds, parents can choose from a list of preapproved services and products on MyScholarShop, which is an online marketplace that offers educational products and services from approved vendors.

Parents of eligible Florida children may use the accounts to pay for private school tuition, tutoring, therapy, curriculum materials, and other educational expenses. The program was open to all Florida students who are eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or have been diagnosed with one of several eligible conditions. The Gardiner Scholarship Program is repealed as of July 1, 2021, and these students are now eligible under the recently expanded Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.

What was the Gardiner Scholarship?

The Gardiner Scholarship Program was a state-funded scholarship program in Florida that provides eligible students with special needs a scholarship that can be used to purchase approved services or products to design a customized educational program to meet their unique needs.

The scholarship was also known as the Personal Learning Scholarship Account (PLSA) and was designed to better meet the individual educational and therapeutic needs of children with disabilities. The program was named after Florida State Senator Andy Gardiner, who was instrumental in passing the legislation that created the scholarship.

The Gardiner Scholarship was available to students from kindergarten through 12th grade, and eligibility is based on a variety of factors, including the student’s diagnosis, the severity of their disability, and their current educational setting.

The scholarship funds can be used to pay for a wide range of educational and therapeutic services and products, including tuition and fees for private schools, home education expenses, virtual school programs, specialized therapies, assistive technology, and more. Families can choose from a list of pre-approved providers or request approval for new providers that meet the program’s eligibility criteria.

Past Eligibility Requirements

Student Eligibility

To be eligible for the Gardiner Scholarship, a student must be a Florida resident and between the ages of 3 and 22, and not yet graduated from high school. Additionally, the student must have a qualifying disability, as defined by the Florida Department of Education. The disability must be one of the following: autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, an intellectual disability, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, spina bifida, or Williams syndrome.

Family Income Requirements

The Gardiner Scholarship program does not have any income requirements for families. However, families must provide proof of residency and income to be eligible for the program. Families must also show proof of their child’s disability diagnosis.

Disability Requirements

To be eligible for the Gardiner Scholarship, a student must have a qualifying disability, as defined by the Florida Department of Education. The disability must be one of the following: autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, an intellectual disability, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, spina bifida, or Williams syndrome. The student must also have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan, or have been diagnosed by a licensed physician. Overall, the Gardiner Scholarship program was designed to provide financial assistance to families of students with disabilities, allowing them to access educational resources and services that may not otherwise be available to them. By meeting the eligibility requirements, families can receive funding for tuition, therapy services, and other educational expenses.

Previous Application Process

How to Apply

To apply for a Gardiner Scholarship, parents or guardians must complete an online application through the Step Up For Students website. The application process was open to both new and prior beneficiaries. Parents must keep track of Gardiner’s annual application deadlines and reapply every year. The application deadline for the Gardiner Scholarship was June 30th each year.

Required Documents

To be considered for a Gardiner Scholarship, applicants must provide proof of their child’s age, diagnosis, and residency. The following documents are required to complete the application process:

• Proof of Florida residency (utility bill, lease agreement, etc.)
• Proof of child’s age (birth certificate, passport, etc.)
• Documentation of a qualifying disability (medical records, Individual Education Plan (IEP), etc.)

It is important to note that the required documents must be submitted by the application deadline to be considered for the scholarship. Once approved, funds will be deposited into an Education Savings Account (ESA) and can be used to pay for preapproved services and products. Overall, the application process for the Gardiner Scholarship was straightforward, but it is important to ensure all required documents are submitted on time to be considered for the scholarship.

Past Benefits of the Gardiner Scholarship

The Gardiner Scholarship Program provides eligible students with a scholarship that can be used to purchase approved services or products in order to design a unique educational program to meet their individual needs. Here are some of the past benefits of the Gardiner Scholarship:

• Flexibility: The scholarship provides families with the flexibility to choose the educational services and products that best meet the unique needs of their child.
• Individualized Education: The Gardiner Scholarship Program was designed to allow parents to individualize their child’s education. This means that parents can tailor their child’s education to meet their specific needs and interests.
• Access to Services: The scholarship funds can be used to purchase a wide range of services and products, including therapy, tutoring, curriculum, and technology. This provides families with access to resources that they may not otherwise be able to afford.
• Increased Opportunities: By providing families with the resources and flexibility to design an individualized education program, the Gardiner Scholarship opens up new opportunities for students to learn and grow.

In addition to these benefits, the Gardiner Scholarship Program also provides families with a sense of empowerment and control over their child’s education. By allowing parents to choose the educational services and products that best meet their child’s needs, the program puts parents in the driver’s seat when it comes to their child’s education.

The Gardiner Scholarship Program was an important resource for families of students with unique abilities. It provides families with the flexibility, resources, and empowerment needed to design an individualized education program that meets the unique needs and interests of their child.

Previous Limitations of the Gardiner Scholarship

The Gardiner Scholarship program was an excellent option for families with special needs children who want to take control of their child’s education. However, there are limitations to the program that families should be aware of before applying.

Firstly, the program has limited funding, which means that not all eligible applicants will receive a scholarship. The scholarship was awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so families should apply early to increase their chances of receiving a scholarship.

Secondly, there are restrictions on how scholarship funds can be used. The funds can only be used for approved educational expenses, such as tuition, textbooks, and educational materials. Families cannot use the funds for non-educational expenses, such as transportation or extracurricular activities.

Thirdly, the scholarship amount was limited, and families may need to supplement the scholarship with their own funds to cover the full cost of their child’s education. The scholarship amount varies depending on the child’s needs, and families should carefully consider their financial situation before applying for the scholarship.

Finally, the scholarship was only available to families who meet certain eligibility criteria. Families must have a child with a qualifying disability, and the child must meet certain residency and age requirements. Families should carefully review the eligibility criteria before applying for the scholarship.

Despite these limitations, the Gardiner Scholarship program was an excellent option for families with special needs children who want to take control of their child’s education. Families should carefully consider the limitations of the program before applying and should be prepared to supplement the scholarship with their own funds if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions applicants had

Here are the past most frequently asked questions about the Gardiner Scholarship Program:

Question	Answer
What is the Gardiner Scholarship Program?	The Gardiner Scholarship Program is a scholarship that provides eligible students with a scholarship that can be used to purchase approved services or products in order to design a customized educational program for the student.
Who is eligible for the Gardiner Scholarship Program?	Students with unique abilities who are eligible for the program include students with autism spectrum disorder, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Spina bifida, Williams syndrome, and rare diseases as defined by the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
How do I apply for the Gardiner Scholarship Program?	Parents or guardians of eligible students must submit an application to the Florida Department of Education. The application process typically opens in late winter or early spring and closes in late summer or early fall.
What can the scholarship funds be used for?	The scholarship funds can be used to purchase approved services or products, including tuition, fees, textbooks, curriculum, therapies, and technology. The funds cannot be used for transportation or room and board.
Is there a limit to how much scholarship funding a student can receive?	Yes, the maximum scholarship amount varies depending on the student’s grade level and county of residence. For the 2021-22 school year, the maximum scholarship amount for students in grades K-5 is $10,000, for students in grades 6-8 is $13,000, and for students in grades 9-12 is $15,000.

If you have additional questions about the Gardiner Scholarship Program, you can visit the Florida Department of Education’s website or contact them directly for more information.