Gardiner Scholarship Program application | Funding, waitlist 2026-2027

Gardiner Scholarship Program application | Funding, waitlist 2026-2027 Payment Schedule. The Family Empowerment Scholarship (formerly Gardiner) program helps parents individualize the educational plans for their children with certain special needs. 

Gardiner Scholarship program differs from other state scholarships in that parents are allowed to individualize their children with unique skills and also let them have a better future.

The Scholarship award amount varies according to grade, county of residence and disability. The award amounts for the 2024-25 school year are still being determined. For a student who has a Level I to Level III matrix of services or a diagnosis by a physician or psychologist, the calculated scholarship amount for a student participating in the program must be based upon the grade level and school district in which the student would have been enrolled.

The funds must be allocated based on the school district’s average exceptional student education guaranteed allocation funds per exceptional student education full-time equivalent student.

Gardiner Scholarship waitlist 2026

For a student who received a Gardiner Scholarship in the school year, the amount of the award will be the greater of the amount calculated above or the amount the student received for the school year.

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Level/Field of Study

The Scholarship is open to Florida Student from 3 years to 22 years old or 12th grade with special needs or disabilities as listed in the Eligibility section below.

How much is the Gardiner Scholarship worth?

The scholarship amount will vary according to grade, county and matrix score, and is worth 90% of the funding a school district would receive for the student. The average amount for most students is $10,000. Students with the most severe disabilities may be eligible for a higher scholarship amount if the student receives an IEP after he/she has been awarded a Gardiner Scholarship.

Who is eligible for Gardiner Scholarship Account Program?

• The student is a resident of Florida.
• The student will be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1.
• The student is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade twelve in a public school in Florida; and
• The student has at least one of the disabilities (as defined by Section 1002.385(2)(d), Florida Statutes) listed below; and
• The student has an AAA Diagnosis of Disability Form completed and signed by a U.S, licensed physician or a Florida licensed psychologist that matches at least one of the disabilities (as defined by Section 1002.385(2)(d), Florida Statutes) listed below.
• The Scholarship is open to Florida Student from 3 years to 22 years old or 12th grade, whichever comes first, with the following disabilities: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Williams Syndrome, Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, or Delayed Mind ( severe cognitive impairment).

How are scholarships awarded?

Scholarships are awarded to eligible students in the following order of priority: renewing students; students retained on the previous school years wait list; new applicants and late-filing applicants (renewals and wait listed students who missed the priority deadline) on a first- completed, first-awarded basis.

How are scholarships funded?

Scholarships are funded by the Florida Department of Education through a state grant to AAA Scholarship Foundation. The state determines the level of funding for the program each year. If sufficient funding runs out or is not available, eligible students will be placed on a waiting list.

How to Apply for Gardiner Scholarship Program

New Families:

They also accepting scholarship applications for the 2022 school year, with priority being given to previously waitlisted students. All applicants must have an email address to create an online application. If you do not have an active email address, create one first to start the application. First-time applicants, please click on the link above to begin your application.

Renewal Families:

If your child uses a Step Up Gardiner scholarship (formerly PLSA) for the 2017-2018 school year, click on the following link above to apply for the 2022 school year or to access your account using your existing user name and password.

Scholarship Worth

The funding of the scholarship is prorated based on the date the student is found eligible by the SFO.

• The Applications which are received on or before January 1 and found eligible on or before February 1 = 50%.
• Applications which are received on or before March 1 and found eligible on or before April 1 = 25%.
• Applications which are received on or before August 1 and found eligible on or before September 1 = 100%
• Applications which are received on or before October 1 and found eligible on or before November 1 = 75%.

The Step Up For Students is a USA state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization that administers scholarships for Florida school children. Some of the scholarships they administer include The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC) for low-income children and Gardiner Scholarship (PLSA) for children with special needs.

More information on the Gardiner Scholarship Program online.