CS/HB 5103 Summary

• Establishes the Florida Personal Learning Account Program enabling parents of students with specific disabilities (autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, Prader-Willi syndrome, or spina bifida) in kindergarten through grade 5 to customize their child's education using account funds.

• Eligible students must be identified with a disability by their school district, have an individual educational plan, and be assigned to Support Level IV or V; parents must apply through nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations and obtain an IEP within 30 days of payment transfer dates.

• Parents are responsible for procuring educational services and maintaining a portfolio documenting instruction; school districts are not obligated to provide free appropriate public education once a student receives an account; eligible expenses include specialized instructional services, private school tuition, tutoring, virtual programs, curriculum, and therapy services.

• Nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations must establish separate accounts, verify expenditures, submit annual audits, and provide quarterly reports; the Department of Education maintains an approved provider list, oversees organizations, and transfers quarterly funding calculated based on Support Level funding formulas.

• Accounts carry forward unused funds annually, terminate when a student enrolls in public school, becomes ineligible, graduates, or reaches age 22, with remaining funds reverting to the state; effective July 1, 2014.