Which school model should a Lee congregation choose?
Most choose among three: a full-week school, a PEP-funded hybrid meeting two or three days, or a small microschool. The hybrid is the lightest start, since Sunday school rooms sit empty on weekdays, and its price can sit under the award.
How does a new school register with Florida?
By completing the Department of Education's yearly private school survey, which assigns the state number you see on our pages. The school then keeps attendance and immunization files, passes local fire and health inspections and screens staff at Level 2. There is no state license or state accreditation for K-12 private schools, though a preschool or child care program needs its own license.
How does a school start accepting the scholarship?
Sign up with a scholarship funding organization, Step Up For Students or AAA, send the documents its current school handbook asks for, then report each funded student in EMA every quarter. Scholarship schools also give students a norm-referenced test each year.
How should a Lee church school set tuition?
Against the award: $8,779 for K-3, $8,193 for 4-8 and $8,001 for 9-12 in Lee for 2026-27. Plenty of church schools set prices close to those amounts, then discount for members and siblings.
How do families find a new school?
Parents in Lee look up which schools take Step Up and which Christian schools they can afford. A claimed listing shows up exactly when they're doing that math.
When should we contact Fort Myers Edu Funding?
Months before opening day, so we can line your launch up with the EMA quarters and have families able to find you from the start.
| Florida requires | Florida does not require |
|---|---|
| The yearly DOE private school survey | A state K-12 operating license |
| Level 2 screening of employees | Florida teaching certificates for staff |
| A separate license for any preschool or child care | Accreditation, which stays optional |