KCFL Scholarship Program Overview

The Kids’ Chance of Florida Scholarship Program awards scholarships to dependent children of a worker who has been killed or seriously injured in a claim accepted as compensable under the Florida Workers’ Compensation Act (Chapter 440, Florida Statutes), the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. § 901 et seq.), or the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (5 U.S.C. Chapter 81).

The program is administered by Kids’ Chance of Florida, Inc. and governed by a Board of Directors representing a cross-section of the legal and workers’ compensation communities.

Applicants must submit a completed online application and all required supporting documentation by the stated deadline. Online submissions will not be accepted after the deadline.

All applicants will be notified once the Kids’ Chance Scholarship Committee and Board of Directors have completed their review and made final award decisions.

Scholarship funding is limited and varies from year to year. Awards typically range from $2,000 to $10,000 per student per year, depending on available funding and individual circumstances. Submitting an application does not guarantee a scholarship award, nor does it guarantee funding in future years. Students who receive a Kids’ Chance scholarship must reapply each year to be considered for continued support.

Pre-Qualifying Questions

1. Are you a resident of Florida?
2. Have you been accepted for admission to an accredited Florida Technical School, College or University?
3. Are you the child of someone who suffered a serious or fatal accident at work?
4. Has that accident or disease been accepted as compensable (the employer or carrier is paying medical and lost wage benefits) under the Florida workers’ compensation law, the federal workers’ compensation law, or The Longshore and Harborworkers’ Act?
5. Is your GPA 2.5 or higher?

If you can answer “Yes” to all the questions above, you have met the preliminary qualifications for our scholarship program. We encourage you to complete the full on-line application.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a natural child, adopted child, or step-child dependent on a Florida worker seriously injured or killed in a claim compensable under The Florida Workers’ Compensation Act (Chapter 440, Florida Statutes); the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. § 901 et seq.), or the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (5 U.S.C. Chapter 81).
• Proof of residency required.
• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or be a high school student in good standing. Academic achievement, aptitude, extracurricular activities, and community service of the applicant are considered.
• Must maintain a 2.5 GPA or equivalent. Must be pursuing a primary college or university degree (bachelor’s or associate’s) or vocational education and training (certificate or license) and have received a Letter of Acceptance from an accredited Florida university, community, technical or vocational college and/or state-approved proprietary school. Must demonstrate substantial financial need through the FAFSA submission.

Expectations of Scholarship Recipients

• Prompt response to requests from Florida Kids’ Chance office for documents, renewal applications, grade reports, etc.
• Maintenance of satisfactory grades of a cumulative “C” average or higher.
• Prompt notification of dropped classes or withdrawal from school.

Materials Needed To Complete Application

1. A Fully Completed Application.
2. Proof of Residency.
3. Proof that a parent was killed or seriously injured in a claim accepted as compensable under The Florida Workers’ Compensation Act (Chapter 440, Florida Statutes); the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. § 901 et seq.); or the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (5 U.S.C. Chapter 81).
4. Copy of one of the following documents (Birth Certificate, Drivers License or Passport).
5. Official school transcripts.
6. Official full-time college course schedule. 
7. Letter(s) of recommendation from either a teacher, a supervisor, a community leader, a guidance counselor.
8. Letter of acceptance to the school you will be attending with course schedule and your individual Student ID number.
9. Contact information for Financial/Scholarship office, to include, physical address where scholarship benefits will be mailed, phone number, and e-mail address.

Scholarships Awarded

Since its founding in 2015, Kids’ Chance of Florida
has awarded 105 scholarships totaling over $453,000.

The number and amount of scholarship grants awarded
by Kids’ Chance of Florida each year is dependent upon
the number and eligibility of students who apply and available funds.