Family Empowerment Scholarship

We know there are many questions surrounding the new Family Empowerment Act. Please review the letters below with updates on the school's position on this new scholarship program.

We will update this page with any changes.

If you have additional questions, please contact Meghan Wilson, our Director of Admission at mwilson@hces.org or 850-383-1007.

List of 1 news stories.

January 31, 2024 Update

Dear Families,

As previously shared, the Family Empowerment Act Working Committee (FEAWC) has been meeting to consider the short- and long-term impacts of the Family Empowerment Scholarship program (HB1-2023) for Holy Comforter Episcopal School. In September, the Board of Trustees created this working committee as a subset of the Board to research, explore the program, ask the questions relevant to HCES, and report to the Board. This committee, composed of board members, parents, and administrators, worked through the fall and start of the new year to gather information.

After careful consideration of the research and input provided by the FEAWC, the Board of Trustees has decided not to participate in the Florida Empowerment Scholarship, in part, to maintain our autonomy as a private, independent school. The Board will monitor legislation and future developments to the scholarship program with a plan to reassess in the next three to five years unless there is an immediate need to do so sooner. HCES will continue to offer need-based financial aid for those who qualify.

We would like to thank the parents who took advantage of asking questions and providing comments to the committee via the survey. A summary of the responses to those questions may be found on our website on the Family Empowerment Scholarship webpage.

Sincerely,

Brandi Brown Peter Klekamp
Chair, Board of the Trustees Head of School

FES News and Updates

October 30, 2023 Update
10/30/2023
Dear Families,

The Family Empowerment Act Working Committee has been meeting to consider the short- and long-term impacts of the Family Empowerment Scholarship program (HB1). The committee has developed a list of initial questions to be considered in our effort to reach a recommendation for the Board of Trustees. We want to share those questions with you and invite you to include your own about the scholarship program and how it could affect your family and Holy Comforter.
Read More
September 21, 2023 Announcement
9/21/2023
Dear Families,

We want to reach out with an update regarding the Family Empowerment Act, also known as HB 1, that went into effect on July 1. At our annual Board of Trustees Retreat in August, Skylar Zander, who serves as president of Americans for Prosperity as well as Adam Emerson, Executive Director of the Office of Independent Learning and Parental Choice and responsible for running the Florida Empowerment Scholarships for the state, presented information regarding HB 1 and answered questions from the trustees.
Read More
May 26, 2023 Update
5/26/2023
Dear Parents,

As many of you know the Family Empowerment Act, also known as HB1, will go into effect on July 1. A subcommittee of the Board of Trustees, comprised of administrators and parents, has been formed to evaluate the impact the Family Empowerment Act could potentially have on the future of our school. We will be taking the next six months to research, analyze, and make an informed decision on whether Holy Comforter Episcopal School will participate or not.
Read More

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Frequently Asked Questions

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

What would happen to current tuition rates if HCES were to accept scholarships? Would the FES award satisfy student tuition at HCES or would parents be responsible for the difference between tuition and the state award?

Tuition rates could be significantly impacted. Some participating schools have already increased tuition for families using the state funds by assessing a fee to help cover additional costs created in administering the award. The Family Empowerment Scholarship would not fully satisfy the cost of student tuition at Holy Comforter Episcopal School for 2023-2024. In the 2023-24 school year, the average award amount was $7,950 which would cover approximately 55% of the current HCES tuition. Parents would be responsible for covering the difference between the award amount and the total tuition and would not be eligible for tuition assistance from the school.
How many vouchers are going to be accepted? Do we have room/space to accommodate? Will it mean that returning students may lose space?

HCES admission standards would remain unchanged. All new students would still meet our testing, academic, and other admissions requirements. However, class sizes are limited, and currently, many grade levels are already at capacity with active waiting lists, while others have limited spaces available. The school’s policy has always been to offer the option of re-enrollment to current HCES students in good standing before new students are offered a place.
The scholarship programs are currently months behind in paying vendors, if HCES accepted funds would we be able to operate effectively if funds were 3-6 months behind? Would participation in the programs require that HCES increase administrative staff in order to administer and participate in the program? Would HCES have to change policies or procedures to accommodate outside vendors (therapists) providing student services on campus? How would that also change our security processes/protocols?

Increased administrative costs required to meet the state’s compliance and reporting standards would be significant. Additional staff would be required to administer the program and while the state’s operating procedures for the scholarship program have been refined, the school’s receipt of funds would be dependent on the distribution processes of the scholarship funding organizations. All areas, including security protocols, would need to be reviewed and might need to change based on state criteria at that time.
What kind of conditions will the state be able to set for the school should it accept the money? What impacts would there be on the curriculum, teaching methodologies, and testing by accepting these funds? If you accept funds from the state, what would differentiate HCES from a publicly-funded charter school?

Ultimately, the Florida Legislature has the authority to revise state-sponsored programs at any time and therefore policies and program mandates may also change. State policies could potentially impact our academic program requiring changes to curriculum, in addition to things like school celebrations and student assessments to name a few. While our goal is to nurture the unique atmosphere that makes HCES special, and we would continue to work to ensure that our school's distinct character is preserved, it isn’t possible to predict how changes in mandates from the state might impact our school culture.