Students who are bullied or subjected to violence on campus may be able to receive a scholarship to attend a private school.

The Lee County School Board had its pre-briefing for the Hope Scholarship policy, which enables students the opportunity to transfer to another district, or private school, if they are subjected to an incident of violence, or bullying.

According to the policy, students are eligible for the Hope Scholarship on a first-come, first-served basis for students in K-12 if they are subjected to battery, harassment, hazing, bullying, kidnapping, physical attack, robbery, sexual offenses, threat or intimidation, fighting or COVID-19 harassment.

Board Attorney Kathy Dupuy-Bruno said parents will receive the Hope Scholarship form from the Department of Education after the investigation, or at least within 15 days.

“Upon conclusion of the investigation or within 15 days after the incident was reported, whichever occurs first, the district shall notify the parent of the existence of the Hope Scholarship Program using the Hope Scholarship Notification Form developed by the FLDOE and offer the parent an opportunity to enroll the students in another public school that has capacity or to request and receive, contingent upon available funds, and on a first-come, first-served basis, a scholarship to attend an eligible private school,” the policy states.

MTSS and Attendance Coordinator Tammy Scott said once informed there is a bullying situation, they investigate.

The Hope Scholarship will remain until the student graduates from high school.

Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said when a parent withdraws a student from school, the policy states that they need to inform the district to take advantage of the Hope Scholarship.

“My understanding of the law is silent. The law does not provide any fall back procedure. It’s nice if a parent tells us upon withdrawal they are planning to utilize the Hope Scholarship moving forward,” he said. “If they don’t, they are still eligible for the Hope Scholarship and we are responsible for the financial implication of that.”

Bernier said the withdrawal from school is a formal procedure that can be done pretty quickly. The district will make sure it is down appropriately and allow that student to move forward.

Board member Melisa Giovannelli said she hopes the district can make accommodations when bullying is going on and the child is not comfortable in that school any longer before any discussion about the Hope Scholarship takes place.

The policy will come back before the board for the first reading.