News for all of Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

DeSantis Wants To Do Away With Gardiner Scholarship Waitlist

Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during his inaugural week festivities.
Ryan Dailey
/
WFSU-FM
Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during his inaugural week festivities.
Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during his inaugural week festivities.
Credit Ryan Dailey / WFSU-FM
/
WFSU-FM
Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during his inaugural week festivities.

Governor Ron DeSantis plans to eliminate the 2,000-family wait list for the Gardiner scholarship. It allows families of students with disabilities to personalize education opportunities, using resources like occupational and speech therapy.

DeSantis' proposed budget, which he rolled out last week in Tallahassee, has nearly $19 million earmarked for the Gardiner scholarship. The Governor says that is enough funding to scrap the wait list for a program he calls a “proven success.”

I think parents who need to find that good environment for their kids – and every child’s need are different – have been able to find it using the Gardiner scholarship,” DeSantis said at Jacksonville’s North Florida School of Special Education Monday.

DeSantis says he’s a “big supporter” of both the Gardiner and McKay scholarships – the latter allows special needs students to attend private schools with state financial support.

Copyright 2020 WFSU. To see more, visit .

Ryan Dailey is a reporter/producer for WFSU/Florida Public Radio. After graduating from Florida State University, Ryan went into print journalism working for the Tallahassee Democrat for five years. At the Democrat, he worked as a copy editor, general assignment and K-12 education reporter.
Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU