Florida’s A+ Education Plan

The only program of its kind in the nation, the Opportunity Scholarship Program has been a part of Florida’s A+ Education Plan since 1999. As originally implemented, the program offered students who attended or who were assigned to attend failing public schools the option to choose a higher performing public school or a participating private school.

On January 5, 2006, the Florida Supreme Court issued a ruling declaring the private school option of the Opportunity Scholarship Program unconstitutional. Students assigned to a failing school are no longer offered the opportunity to transfer and enroll in a participating private school. The option to attend a higher performing public school remains in effect. Information and statistics related to past private school participation is available in the historical data section.

(Click for historical data)

                   Opportunity Scholarship Program

                           Eligibility Requirements

A public school student's parent may request and receive from the state an Opportunity Scholarship for the student to enroll in and attend a higher performing public school if:

• By assigned school attendance area or by special assignment, student spent the prior school year in attendance at a public school that has been designated as earning a grade "F" or three consecutive "Ds" as based on the statewide assessments conducted pursuant to Section. 1008.22, Florida Statutes.

• The student has been in attendance elsewhere in the public school system and has been assigned to such school for the next school year; or

• The student has been assigned to such school for the next school year.