Citrus County Schools

On March 27, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law House Bill (HB) 1, which expanded school choice options for all students in Florida. Florida’s choice options empower every family and every child to achieve their educational goals.

Family Empowerment Scholarship- Educational Options

This branch of the scholarship eligibility provides additional educational options for all K-12 students, such as attending a participating private school. Families apply and annually renew through one of the approved scholarship funding organizations (SFO), which are responsible for determining and distributing funding. 

Family Empowerment Scholarship- Unique Abilities

This branch of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program is designed to offer families of students with disabilities, as young as 3 years of age, access to additional education options. Families may choose to enroll their student in another public school, or they may choose to take the opportunity to receive a personal education savings account (ESA) for their student. With an ESA, instead of having their child attend a public school, parents receive a deposit of public funds into government-authorized savings accounts with restricted, but multiple, uses. An ESA can be used to fund not only items such as private school tuition and fees, but also online learning programs, private tutoring, community college costs, higher education expenses and other approved customized learning services and materials. Families apply and annually renew for participation in FES UA through one of the approved SFOs, which are responsible for determining eligibility, awarding and distributing funding to eligible student accounts, and approving eligible expenditures.

Florida Department of Education

For additional information regarding the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program or School Choice options please visit the Florida Department of Education Website: https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/fes/Link

Citrus County School District Contact Information

Jessie Hodges- District ESE Specialist/ Family Empowerment Scholarship Liaison

Phone: (352) 726-1931 ext.  2329