The McKay Scholarship no longer exists as a standalone program. As of July 1, 2022, it was folded into the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) in Florida. If you’re looking to apply for what used to be the McKay Scholarship, you’ll now go through the FES-UA application process, which offers broader options than the old program did.
What Replaced the McKay Scholarship
The McKay Scholarship originally helped Florida students with disabilities attend a different public or private school. The FES-UA program keeps that option but adds an education savings account model, giving families more flexibility in how they spend scholarship funds. Instead of money going directly to a private school for tuition, families can use an account to pay for a wider range of educational services tailored to their child’s needs.
Families who were already receiving McKay funds were transitioned into the new program and given the choice to stay in their current school setting or take advantage of the expanded options under FES-UA.
Who Qualifies for FES-UA
The scholarship is open to Florida students from age 3 through grade 12, or up to age 22, whichever comes first. Your child must have a qualifying diagnosis. The list of eligible conditions is broad and includes:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
- Specific learning disability
- Intellectual disability
- Emotional or behavioral disability
- Speech or language impairment
- Hearing impairment, including deafness
- Visual impairment, including blindness
- Traumatic brain injury
- Orthopedic impairment
- Muscular dystrophy
- Spina bifida
- Anaphylaxis
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Phelan-McDermid syndrome
- Williams syndrome
- Dual sensory impairment
- Rare diseases
- Hospital or homebound status
- Being classified as a high-risk child
- Other health impairment
If your child has a documented diagnosis that falls into any of these categories, they may be eligible. The determination is made by the scholarship funding organization that processes your application, not by the state directly.
How to Apply
You don’t apply through the Florida Department of Education. Instead, you submit your application through an approved Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO). Step Up For Students is the primary SFO handling FES-UA applications. The process works like this:
Start by visiting the Step Up For Students website and locating the FES-UA scholarship page. You’ll create an account and fill out an application that asks for your child’s basic information, school history, and documentation of their qualifying diagnosis. This typically means uploading medical records, evaluation reports, or school documentation that confirms the diagnosis.
The SFO reviews your application, verifies eligibility, and determines the award. Once approved, funds are deposited into a scholarship account tied to your child. You then use that account to pay for approved educational expenses. The SFO also handles annual renewals, so you’ll need to reapply each year to keep receiving funds.
What the Scholarship Covers
Under the old McKay program, funds primarily covered private school tuition. The FES-UA education savings account model is more flexible. Scholarship dollars can go toward private school tuition, but families can also use the funds for other approved educational expenses, including therapies, specialized tutoring, curriculum materials, and other services that support their child’s learning needs. Every purchase must be submitted to the SFO for approval, so keep documentation for anything you plan to use scholarship funds on.
The specific amount your child receives depends on several factors, including their grade level and the nature of their disability. The SFO will outline your award amount once eligibility is confirmed.
Timing and What to Expect
Applications for the upcoming school year typically open in the spring. If you’re applying for the first time, start early. Gathering medical documentation, completing the application, and waiting for the eligibility review can take several weeks. Returning families generally have a smoother renewal process since much of the documentation is already on file.
Once approved, you’ll gain access to your child’s scholarship account and can begin selecting providers, schools, or services. If you choose a private school, confirm that the school participates in the FES-UA program before enrolling. Not every private school in Florida accepts scholarship students, and participation is voluntary on the school’s part.