Before you apply, please review the following important information:
The PLSA is for Florida students in Kindergarten through 12th grade, or Florida children ages 3 or 4 years old, with one of the following disabilities:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, published by the American Psychiatric Association.
- Down syndrome, as defined in s.393.063(13), “Down syndrome” means a disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21.
- Cerebral palsy, as defined in s.393.063(4), “Cerebral palsy” means a group of disabling symptoms of extended duration which results from damage to the developing brain that may occur before, during, or after birth and that results in the loss or impairment of control over voluntary muscles. For the purposes of this definition, cerebral palsy does not include those symptoms or impairments resulting solely from a stroke.
- Intellectual disability, as defined in s.393.063(21), “Intellectual disability” means significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior which manifests before the age of 18 and can reasonably be expected to continue indefinitely. For the purposes of this definition, the term: (a) “Adaptive behavior” means the effectiveness or degree with which an individual meets the standards of personal independence and social responsibility expected of his or her age, cultural group, and community; (b) “Significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning” means performance that is two or more standard deviations from the mean score on a standardized intelligence test specified in the rules of the agency.
- Prader-Willi syndrome, as defined in s. 393.063(25), “Prader-Willi syndrome” means an inherited condition typified by neonatal hypotonia with failure to thrive, hyperphagia or an excessive drive to eat which leads to obesity usually at 18 to 36 months of age, mild to moderate intellectual disability, hypogonadism, short stature, mild facial dysmorphism, and a characteristic neurobehavior.
- Spina bifida, as defined in s. 393.063(36,) “Spina bifida” means, for purposes of this chapter, a person with a medical diagnosis of spina bifida cystica or myelomeningocele.
- For a student in kindergarten, being a high-risk child, as defined in s. 393.063(20)(a), “High-risk child” means, for the purposes of this chapter, a child from 3 to 5 years of age with one or more of the following characteristics: (a) A developmental delay in cognition, language, or physical development; (b) A child surviving a catastrophic infectious or traumatic illness known to be associated with developmental delay, when funds are specifically appropriated; (c) A child with a parent or guardian with developmental disabilities who requires assistance in meeting the child’s developmental needs; (d) A child who has a physical or genetic anomaly associated with developmental disability.
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Williams syndrome
In order to qualify for the PLSA:
- A student must be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1st, or
- A student entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before September 1st, or
- A student entering 1st grade must be 6 years old on or before September 1st, and
- You must be a Florida resident, and
- A student must have a written diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychologist that matches the definitions listed above, and
- The student may be enrolled in a private school or a home education program.
A student may not receive a PLSA and:
- Continue to attend a Florida public school, including: – Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
- Florida Virtual School (as a public school student) – College-Preparatory Boarding Academy
- A developmental research school
- A district charter school
- A district virtual education program (as a public school student)
- Remain on a McKay Scholarship or a Tax Credit (Income-Based) Scholarship during the same school year.
- Remain in a Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program during the same school year.
- Enroll in a school operating for the purpose of providing educational services to youth in the Department of Juvenile Justice commitment programs.
The student is not eligible for a PLSA if the student or student’s parent has accepted any payment, refund, or rebate from a provider of any services for the PLSA program.