Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 6A-6.0962 - New Worlds Scholarship Accounts

(1) Eligibility of nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations. An eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization (SFO) that is approved pursuant to Section 1002.395, F.S., may establish New Worlds Scholarship accounts for eligible students.

(2) Nonprofit SFO requirements. Eligible nonprofit SFOs must:

(a) Receive applications and determine eligibility of students in accordance with the requirements of Section 1002.411(2), F.S.;

(b) Verify eligible expenditures before direct purchases or the distribution of funds for any expenditures made pursuant to Section 1002.411 (3)(a)2., F.S.

(3) Eligible students. Applications for a New Worlds Scholarship Account shall be made by parents directly through an eligible nonprofit SFO. The nonprofit scholarship-funding organization shall verify the eligibility of students pursuant to the criteria established in Section 1002.411, F.S., and award scholarships consistent with the requirements of Section 1002.411, F.S.

(4) Scholarship payments. The following provisions relate to the distribution of funds from the Department of Education to an eligible nonprofit SFO.

(a) An eligible nonprofit SFO may request a payment from the Department of Education for an eligible student after it has confirmed that the student has met the eligibility criteria in Section 1002.411(2), F.S. The nonprofit SFO must:

1. Confirm the eligibility of each scholarship student and include:

a. Student name, date of birth, English Language Learner status (if known), sex, race, grade level, and address including county of residence; and

b. Date and time the nonprofit SFO confirmed eligibility.

2. Submit a signed invoice requesting payment which must include the amount requested for each individual student as well as the total amount requested.

(b) Eligible nonprofit SFO must set an annual deadline for scholarship participation.

(c) The Department shall distribute funds on a first-come first-served basis, in the following order of priority for each invoice period:

1. Students confirmed by the SFO as English Language Learners who are enrolled in a program or receiving services that are specifically designed to meet the instructional needs of English Language Learner students.

2. Date and time the SFO confirmed eligibility.

(d) Requests for payments by a nonprofit SFO must be submitted no later than June 30 for the fiscal year in which the student is eligible to receive a scholarship.

(e) The Commissioner may revoke a student's participation in the program and withhold or request the return of a scholarship payment if it is determined that the parent is in violation of Section 1002.411(3), F.S.

(f) Eligible nonprofit SFOs are responsible for the return of all scholarship funds to the Department that were received in error or associated with a scholarship account that has been closed pursuant to Section 1002.411(7)(g), F.S. Funds returned must include the administrative fee if no reimbursements were made for expenditures that occurred in the fiscal year in which the scholarship was awarded.

(5) Quarterly Reports: Four (4) times a year, no later than October 30, January 30, April 30, and July 30 of each year, an eligible nonprofit SFO organization must submit in a format to be specified by the Department an electronic list of all participating scholarship students and eligible expenditures. The list must include the following information:

(a) Demographic information for each student, including name, date of birth, English Language Learner status, grade level, sex, race, and county of residence;

(b) Program award amount for each student; and

(c) Total year-to-date expenditures for each student by purpose type.

(6) Nothing in this rule shall limit the Department's authority to request any other information related to the scholarship program.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 6A-6.0962

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1002.395(12)(d), 1002.411(5), 1003.485(7)(d) FS. Law Implemented 1002.411 FS.

Adopted by Florida Register Volume 44, Number 153, August 7, 2018 effective 8/21/2018, Amended by Florida Register Volume 50, Number 239, December 10, 2024 effective 12/24/2024.

New 8-21-18.