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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
John L. Winn
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Commissioner of Education
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Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
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ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
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PHOEBE RAULERSON
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KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
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LINDA K. TAYLOR
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March 1, 2006
M E M O R A N D U M
INCREASING THE QUANTITY AND IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS
TO:
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District McKay Scholarship Program Coordinators
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FROM:
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Virginia Gentles, Executive Director
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Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice
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SUBJECT:
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John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Parental Intent Q & A
The Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice has opened up the Pre-Intent
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Process under the McKay Scholarship Program for the 2006-2007 school year.
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We would like to address several questions that pertain directly to districts during the pre-intent
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process. Please take a moment to review this information.
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1. What is a pre-intent?
A pre-intent is an intent to participate in the McKay Scholarship Program that is filed by the
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parent through the www.floridaschoolchoice.org website. The parent may file the intent online
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at this point; however, the eligibility of a student cannot be determined until the February 2006
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FTE data is made available.
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2. What is the difference between a pre-intent and a regular intent?
A pre-intent is a valid filed intent to participate, but it does not verify student eligibility. A regular
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intent is filed when both the October and February FTE data are available. The regular intent
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automatically verifies eligibility.
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3. How long will the pre-intent process last?
We currently expect the pre-intent process to be open until the end of March 2006. The regular
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intent process will be open as soon as the February 2006 FTE data is made available.
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VIRGINIA GENTLES
Executive Director
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Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice
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325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 522 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0502 • Fax (850) 245-0875
4. How will district staff know when a pre-intent has been filed?
We are working to give districts access to view the pre-intents that have been filed in their
district. However, you will not be able to enter a matrix status for the pre-intents until the
February 2006 FTE data is available.
5. What is my role as a district during the pre-intent process?
Until the February 2006 FTE data is available, districts are unable to enter a matrix status for
students whose pre-intents have been filed. You will only be able to view the pre-intents.
The thirty (30) day statutory requirement outlined in s. 1002.39 (3) (b), F. S. for entering a matrix
for students will begin when the February 2006 FTE data is made available. For regularly filed
intents, districts will adhere to the statutory requirement.
6. How do district staff enter a matrix status for a student who has left the public school?
You will not enter a matrix status for students who have filed a pre-intent at this point. Once the
February FTE data is made available, you will be able to enter a matrix status for students who
have filed pre-intents. Eligibility will be based upon the date that the intent was filed.
7. What options do parents have after they have filed a pre-intent or an intent?
Once a parent files intent, they may choose to attend the public school for the remainder of the
school year, or transfer out of a public school into a private school. Parents are able to file pre-
intents for both the public and private school options.
8. What happens if a student whose pre-intent was filed is ineligible?
If the student is determined ineligible, the parent will then select the best option for his/her child.
The student would not qualify for the McKay Scholarship Program, and scholarship payments
would not be generated for the student. The parent will be able to view their student's status
using their confirmation number.
9. Do parents receive a confirmation number when they file a pre-intent?
Yes. Confirmation numbers beginning with "MCK" are provided to parents after they have filed a
pre-intent. They may also use this confirmation number to view their student's intent status.
10. Where do we refer parents who are having problems filing their pre-intents or
intents?
Please refer them to the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice Information
Hotline at (800) 447-1636, and our representatives will be able to assist them with their
questions.
For additional information please contact Monica Brown by telephone at (800) 447-1636, or by
email at monica.brown@fldoe.org.