Family Empowerment Scholarship Program:
HB 423 would amend Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship Program law to require participating private schools to give parents written information before a student enrolls. The required disclosure would cover the school’s academic programs and policies, code of conduct, attendance policies, and any specialized services or therapies offered. For students with an Individualized Education Plan, Education Plan, English Language Learner Plan, or 504 Plan, the school would also have to explain in advance which accommodations, modifications, and therapies in the plan it will honor, so parents can determine whether the school can meet the child’s needs.
The bill is aimed at improving transparency and informed choice for families using scholarship funds to attend private schools. It would make these pre-enrollment disclosures a condition of participation in the scholarship program, and a school that fails to comply could be found ineligible by the commissioner. The act would take effect July 1, 2025.
HB 423 would amend section 1002.394, Florida Statutes, governing the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, by adding a new pre-enrollment disclosure requirement for private schools. It would affect participating sectarian and nonsectarian private schools, parents considering scholarship-funded enrollment, and students with special education or language-support plans. The bill also strengthens enforcement by tying compliance with these disclosure obligations to continued eligibility in the scholarship program.
The bill appears to have been framed as a consumer-protection and transparency measure for families, especially those with students who have individualized educational needs. Because there were no recorded committee transcripts or votes available, there is no detailed public record in the provided materials showing debate or opposition. Its committee outcome suggests it did not advance, but the available context does not indicate whether that was due to policy disagreement, scheduling, or other legislative factors.
The main point of potential contention is the burden placed on private schools participating in the scholarship program, which would need to provide detailed written disclosures and confirm in advance which accommodations or therapies they will honor. Supporters would likely view this as necessary to prevent misunderstandings and protect parents from enrolling in schools that cannot meet a child’s needs. Opponents, if any, would likely argue that the requirement adds administrative obligations and could limit flexibility for private schools, particularly around special education services and individualized accommodations.