FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
     
    S
      
    TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
     
    T. WILLARD FAIR,
    Chairman
    Members
    DONNA G. CALLAWAY
    DR. AKSHAY DESAI
    ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
    PHOEBE RAULERSON
    KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
    LINDA K. TAYLOR
     
    Dr. Eric J. Smith
    Commissioner of Education
      
     
      
     
      
     
     
     
     
       
    INCREASING THE QUANTITY AND IMPROVING THE
    QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS
     
     
    M E M O R A N D U M
     
    TO:
    Public School District Superintendents
     
      
      
    FROM:
    Jean Miller, Acting
    Executive Director
     
    DATE:
    February 14, 2008
     
    SUBJECT:
    Parental Notification of School Choice Options
     
     
    The Department of Education continues to work towards increasing the quantity and improving
    the quality of educational options for Florida students. The public school districts share in the
    important task of communicating to parents the school choice options that are available.
     
    Section 1002.39(5)(a)1., Florida Statutes, states that by April 1 of each year
    and
    within 10 days
    after an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting, a school district shall notify the parent of the
    student with disabilities of all available options related to the McKay Scholarship Program. This
    includes informing the parent of the availability of the Department's toll-free information hotline
    and Internet website, and offering the student's parent an opportunity to enroll the student in
    another public school within the district.
     
    To certify compliance with this requirement, please complete the attached Notification
    Verification Form and return by fax before
    April 11, 2008
    , to Tera Quillen, Office of
    Independent Education and Parental Choice.
     
    To assist districts with the notification requirements, we have attached a sample letter related to
    the McKay Scholarship Program in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole. These templates are
    also available on the district administrator page of the School Choice website.
     
     
     
    JEAN MILLER
    Acting Executive Director
    Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice
     
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
    325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 522 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (800) 447-1636 • Fax (850) 245-0875
    Parental Notification of School Choice Options
    February 14, 2008
    Page Two
     
    In addition, a McKay Scholarship Program brochure is available in English, Spanish, and
    Haitian-Creole on the Parent Resources page of the School Choice website
    (http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/information/resources.asp). If districts choose to use these
    brochures, they can print copies of the brochures directly from the website or request a compact
    disc with the brochures and printing specifications by contacting our office at (850) 245-0502.
    We are also happy to provide printed copies of the brochures, upon request, if available.
    However, due to the large volume of requests, we do not always have them in stock.
     
    If you have questions related to this requirement, please contact Tera Quillen. She can be
    reached by email at tera.quillen@fldoe.org, or by telephone at (850) 245-0871.
     
    Thank you for assisting us with the important task of communicating to parents about the
    educational options for students with disabilities.
     
    JM/tq
     
    Attachments (4)
     
    Cc: Public School District ESE Directors
    McKay Scholarship Program District Contacts
     
     

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