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.

Brandi Brown                                 Peter Klekamp 

Chair, Board of the Trustees        Head of School