Under the newly instated Florida school voucher program, parents receive state-funded scholarships for the tuition of high-quality private elementary schools including Jack & Jill Center’s MHA. The new legislation makes all Florida students eligible for taxpayer-financed vouchers to attend private schools – an approximate $8,500 award. MHA will accept the voucheramount provided for the full tuition payment per student. While the vouchers won’t be available to families until July 2023, MHA is currently enrolling students for the 2023-24 school year.
MHA is an expansion of Jack & Jill Center’s Early Education Center and debuted its new building in June 2021. MHA unique features include:
(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) curriculum with small class sizes
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Engaging enrichment activities
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Integrated classroom technology including smart boards and individual devices for each student
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Individualized instructional approaches
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Interactive, educational field trips
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Extended day programming (before- and after-school care and camps)
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A Florida pre-paid college scholarship for all graduates
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Family wraparound support programs
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Health services
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Two on-campus therapy assisted dogs
Since 1942, Jack & Jill Center has remained steadfast in its mission to strengthen children and families through innovative education, supportive programming and community engagement. In the past 80 years, Jack & Jill Center has served over 26,000 children and families in South Florida. Jack & Jill Center supports children of high-need working families through quality early childhood education, elementary education and family strengthening programs to ensure every child and family has the tools they need to be successful.
“We welcome families to bring their vouchers to our Madelaine Halmos Academy through the Florida school voucherprogram,” said Heather Siskind CEO of Jack & Jill Center. “We recognize that families have a choice, and we are confident that we are the best choice through our commitment to ensuring every child and family has the tools they need to be successful with our education and family strengthening programs.”
MHA’s kindergarten through fifth grade program currently serves 126 total students from high-need families, including early education and elementary school education, who benefit from the Jack & Jill education program. MHA has the capabilities to serve 220 students total and is projected to reach that goal by 2024.
MHA provides a safe, academically sound and socially supportive environment for all learners. With its new building, MHA significantly extended its offerings by providing an accredited school incorporating research-based best practices. Some of MHA’s features include a technology-driven STEAM curriculum; dedicated, highly-skilled staff and educators with low student to teacher ratios; extended school day for students; daily healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks; extracurricular activities fostering healthy social-emotional growth and personal development, educational field trips, after-school programming, summer camp experiences and on-site counseling and therapeutic services.
Each child who continues his or her education to graduate from high school will receive a Florida pre-paid college scholarship from the Jack & Jill Center Opportunity Scholarship Fund. The sponsorship is graciously funded by Steve and Madelaine Halmos.
Jack & Jill Center’s children and families have unrestricted access to the school’s HEALTH Program, including an on-site School Nurse. Services provided through this program are an essential piece of Jack & Jill Center’s comprehensive and holistic approach to service. Through comprehensive health assessments, provision of health services, preventative healthcare and community partnerships, the HEALTH program has a significant positive impact on the health and wellness of students, families and community.
Jack & Jill Center’s comprehensive Family Program engages and supports families by providing intensive parent education, case management, referrals and a variety of other support services including one-on-one financial coaching, therapeutic services, counseling, access to the J&J Boutique (a food and clothing pantry), and Family Resource Room and computer lab, emergency assistance funds and the Annual UM Health Fair. Through this program, families gain the skills, knowledge and resources they need in order to increase self-sufficiency and foster their child's healthy growth and development.
