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HSHT Students - Apply Today! | |
As you're aware, The Able Trust has established the Road to Independence and Success in Education (RISE) Scholarship program to support Florida High School High Tech students in their pursuit of higher education. RISE Scholarships will help cover tuition or credit hour costs for technical or state college enrollment.
To be eligible for a RISE Scholarship, students must:
- Be a high school senior and an active participant in a High School High Tech program.
- Complete at least one application to a Florida postsecondary institution (state college, technical school, etc.).
- Complete the RISE Scholarship Application.
The application is available in English and Spanish. In addition to information on the scholarship, visit www.abletrust.org/rise-scholarship for resources that include:
- A Frequently Asked Questions section for parents and guardians,
- Resources on financial aid and other scholarship opportunities.
- Online videos and resources to help parents/guardians complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please note that completion of FAFSA is not required to apply for a RISE scholarship, though it will be required if student is selected to receive a scholarship.
You can also check out a quick video from former HSHT students Leila and Zach who are encouraging students to apply and take that next important step in their future.
Please make sure HSHT students are aware that the deadline for applying is March 31!
To learn more and link to the scholarship application form, select the button below.
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The Florida Division on Career Development & Transition Visions conference is scheduled for April 20-22, 2026 in Gainesville, Fla. Click here to register. | The Tallahassee State College will hold a Transition Fair on Friday, March 13, 2026, from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. Students will have the opportunity to learn about academic programs, student support services and extracurricular opportunities, as well as taking a guided tour of the campus. | Resiliency Florida Characteristic of the Month - Grit | |
The Resiliency Florida initiative was launched in 2021 to emphasize 11 Resiliency characteristics to empower students to persevere and overcome life’s inevitable challenges.
The resiliency characteristic of the month is Grit, which refers to working consistently toward long-term goals. CLICK HERE for parent and teacher resources.
Visit the Resiliency Florida website for additional resources.
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Guidepost Highlights:
Career Preparation and Work-Based Learning
| | Palm Beach County HSHT students participated in several internships with a job trainer onsite. Preparation for the internships included students scheduling transportation to the employer through public transportation or Uber. Pictured below are Crishawn Butler and Kaeleb Brown who interned with the Seagate Hotel & Spa; and Fernando Cuevas, Jy'Niha Brown and Jolanda Hernandez who interned with Burlington | | Thank you for sending great photos of your activities and for posting them online! Don't forget the option of emailing photos and descriptions of the activity to pics@abletrust.org. | | Flagler County HSHT students visited AdventHealth's Palm Coast South location. During their tour, students learned about careers in a variety of medical center departments including a behind-the-scenes look at a one-day surgery. It was a great opportunity to see the wide range of career options in hospital operations! | | Lake County HSHT students visited Full Sail University for a tour of its cutting-edge programs in film, video game design, audio production and cybersecurity. Students learned about career options and discovered there are many places for individuals with disabilities in these exciting fields! | | Palm Beach County HSHT students visited the South Florida Fair to learn about the various careers and job skills related to putting on a major regional event. Teams of students engaged in a career scavenger hunt and learned about event planning topics including marketing and safety. | | Broward County HSHT students toured Nova Southeastern University, meeting with current college students and staff while learning about college life, academic programs, admissions and financial aid opportunities. The students gained a clearer understanding of what it takes to thrive in a university environment, from time management and independence to accessing resources and building community. | | Escambia County HSHT students experienced a day of hands-on marine exploration under the guidance of Captain Blake Rigby of Northwest Florida Fishing Charters. In addition to observing a wide variety of Gulf fish species, students learned key boating and navigational skills as Captain Rigby provided instruction on reading nautical charts, weather awareness, and the use of GPS and depth finders. | | |
Martin County HSHT students did it all... planted, grew, harvested, and cooked! After tending their garden, students turned their fresh vegetables into omelets in a cup, bringing learning to life in the best way. These students built independence, teamwork, and real-world skills they can carry forward. opportunities that connect learning to life and help students discover what they’re capable of.
Photo and caption courtesy of Martin County School District social media post
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When Erica Carter first met Tyler K. during a meeting to discuss his Individualized Education Program plan, she found the then-ninth grader to be quiet and reluctant to participate.
“During that transition meeting, his parents spoke more than he spoke,” said Carter, a student coordinator and math teacher for grades nine through twelve at Morningstar School in Jacksonville.
Tyler, who lives with multiple disabilities, developed the ability to speak up for himself through his time in Duval County’s chapter of the Florida High School High Tech youth program for students with disabilities. Now a senior at Morningstar, Tyler not only plays a much more active role in his education planning meetings—he also has a plan for his future.
For the complete story about how HSHT has impacted Tyler, CLICK HERE.
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Tyler is a very strong leader … He’s made big improvements on his professional skills, communication and confidence.
Jordan Carlson, Duval HSHT program lead
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The Jan La Belle Scholarship Program
The Jan La Belle Scholarship supports Florida students with disabilities who are pursuing their dreams in higher education. One or more Jan La Belle Scholarship winners are selected annually for a total possible non-renewable award. Award amounts are based on several factors, including available funds and number of eligible applicants. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
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Johnson Scholarship Program
The Johnson Scholarship is funded by the Johnson Scholarship Foundation and administered through the State University System of Florida. This scholarship supports undergraduate students with documented disabilities who have unmet financial need and are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree at one of Florida’s state universities. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
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FloridaShines
FloridaShines partners with Florida’s public colleges and universities, K-12 school districts, technical colleges, and other educational organizations to develop tools that support students, parents, and educators. FloridaShines provides profiles of Florida's public colleges and universities, information about Career and Technical Centers, courses required for specific programs, admissions requirements and deadlines, information on how to pay for college and more. All resources are provided to students at no cost. CLICK HERE.
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2026 SparkForce Summer Manufacturing Camp Grant Application
Bring a Manufacturing Camp to Your Community - Inspire the next generation of manufacturers by hosting a summer manufacturing camp at your school. Grant funding is available through SparkForce, The FMA Foundation, to help cover the costs of running an engaging, hands-on camp that introduces students to rewarding careers in manufacturing. CLICK HERE.
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CTE Guide for Students with Disabilities
A new resource from the Florida Department of Education’s Get There initiative is now available The Educator’s Guide to Career & Technical Education (CTE) for Students with Disabilities is a toolkit designed to support educators, counselors, and transition coordinators in introducing CTE as a postsecondary option. CLICK HERE to access the toolkit.
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AT&T Achievery
A free and safe online learning platform created by AT&T to provide K-12 students with engaging and entertaining videos paired with educational activities. CLICK HERE.
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NTACT Self Advocacy
Instruction in self-advocacy is one of the five required Pre-Employment Transition Services and supports the Youth Leadership and Development Guidepost. To download resources including Guiding Questions, Activities, Progress and Outcome Indicators, CLICK HERE.
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Project 10: Transition Education Network
Project 10 is Florida’s statewide IDEA-funded state project supporting the secondary transition of youth with disabilities. Project 10 assists school districts in providing transition services and programs to assist youth with disabilities in their transition to adulthood. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
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Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities
The Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida serves as the state coordinating center to establish and support quality comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities in collaborating with universities, state and technical colleges, with the goal of increasing independent living and competitive integrated employment. For more information, CLICK HERE.
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