The Bright Futures Fund, a 501(c)3 under the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, is designated by the state of Missouri as an Educational Assistance Organization (EAO) and awards scholarships to qualifying families in both the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.
Qualifying paths for scholarships:
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Per statute, a qualified student must meet requirements established by Missouri Revised Statutes 166.700(9).
Qualified students must also meet one of the following criteria:
a. Have an approved “individualized education plan” developed under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The term “individualized education plan” means:
i. An individualized education program (IEP) as defined in 20 U.S.C. §1414(d)(I)(A)(i); or
ii. An individual service plan (ISP) that is developed in cooperation with a local educational agency under the IDEA, specifically those provisions pertaining to parentally placed private school children found in 20 U.S.C. §1412(a)(10) and 34 CFR §300.132(b).
Any IEP or ISP that is proffered for program eligibility must be dated within thirty-six months of the date of the student’s application to the program. Students with ISPs that are not developed under the IDEA are not eligible.
Is a member of a household whose total annual income does not exceed an amount equal to 300% of the income
standard used to qualify for free and reduced lunches, and meets at least one of the following:
Qualified students must also meet one of the following criteria:
a. Have an approved “individualized education plan” developed under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The term “individualized education plan” means:
i. An individualized education program (IEP) as defined in 20 U.S.C. §1414(d)(I)(A)(i); or
ii. An individual service plan (ISP) that is developed in cooperation with a local educational agency under the IDEA, specifically those provisions pertaining to parentally placed private school children found in 20 U.S.C. §1412(a)(10) and 34 CFR §300.132(b).
Any IEP or ISP that is proffered for program eligibility must be dated within thirty-six months of the date of the student’s application to the program. Students with ISPs that are not developed under the IDEA are not eligible.
Is a member of a household whose total annual income does not exceed an amount equal to 300% of the income
standard used to qualify for free and reduced lunches, and meets at least one of the following:
- Attended a public school as a full-time student for at least one semester during the previous twelve months; or
- Is a child who is eligible to begin kindergarten or first grade; or
- Is a sibling of a qualified student who received a scholarship grant in the previous school year and will receive a scholarship grant in the current school year.
Exceptions & Exclusions:
- Application does not guarantee awarding of scholarship(s), and any tuition that falls outside of the scholarship(s) is the responsibility of the family receiving said scholarship(s).
- Only applicable to K-12 students, living in Missouri.
- Scholarship Funds must cover tuition first