Hope Scholarship Program for Students

Information for Parent/Guardians

General Information:  House Bill 7055 established the Hope Scholarship Program to provide the parent of a public school student who was subjected to an incident listed below an opportunity to report the incident and request a transfer of the student to another public school, other than the one to which is assigned, or to request a scholarship for the student to enroll in and attend an eligible private school, in accordance with the rules of the State Board of Education (6A-6.0951, F.A.C.) and with Brevard Public Schools’ School Board Policy 5120.  Eligible incidents include battery; harassment; hazing; bullying; kidnapping; physical attack; robbery; sexual offenses, harassment, assault or battery; threat or intimidation; or fighting at school as defined by the department in accordance with section 1006.09(6), Florida Statutes.

Eligibility Requirements: Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, a student enrolled in a Florida public school in kindergarten through grade 12 is eligible for a scholarship under this program if the student reported an incident of battery; harassment; hazing; bullying; kidnapping; physical attack; robbery; sexual offenses, harassment, assault or battery; threat or intimidation; or fighting at school as defined by the department in accordance with section 1006.09(6), Florida Statutes.

How to Apply:   

Private School Requests:  Parents may find more information regarding the HOPE Scholarship program by visiting the Step Up for Students organization website using the link below.  The parent must apply for the HOPE Scholarship prior to withdrawing the student from the public school.

 https://www.stepupforstudents.org/for-parents/hope/how-the-scholarship-works/

Public School Requests:  Parents will complete the following two requirements in order to process their public school request: 

1. Email or fax a copy of the  Hope Scholarship Notification Form completed by the school to Giguere.Amy@brevardschools.org or Fax # (321) 735-9784 attention: Amy Giguere.

2. Click on the following link to complete the public school choice intent form  PUBLIC INTENT LINK

Transportation: For students that attend a public or private school on the Hope Scholarship in Brevard County, the student’s parents are responsible for provision of transportation. A parent who chooses to enroll his or her child in a public school located outside the district in which the student resides (outside of Brevard County) shall be eligible for a scholarship to transport the student.

Public Schools Open to the Hope Scholarship for  2023/2024 School Year:

Brevard Public Schools closes selected public schools to Hope Scholarship requests based on the building capacity at the school and class size at each grade level.  Each school in Brevard County is reviewed and updated periodically for these factors to determine which public schools are available as a Hope Scholarship choice.  Based on these calculations, all public schools, except for Melbourne, Satellite and Viera High Schools as well as Westside Elementary, are open for consideration of HOPE Scholarship Applicants for the  2023-2024 school year.   If you request an open school for your child, there is still further consideration that is made as the request is reviewed to assure that the requested school has the ability to accommodate your child’s needs as stated on their Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 Accommodation Plan. Parents must request one (or more) of the following schools in order for your child to be considered for a Hope Scholarship to that school.

If you have any questions regarding the HOPE Scholarship Program, please call 321-633-1000 ext. 11503.