YAY!! EXCITING NEWS!!

For those families receiving the Family Empowerment Scholarship, we have some exciting news... Cheyne Ranch is a direct pay provider with Step Up For Students!!

Families eligible for the Gardiner / Family Empowerment Scholarship (Unique Abilities & PEP)

Our programs here at Cheyne Ranch can be paid for either by Direct Pay or by Reimbursement:

  1. FES-UA: Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities

  2. FES-EO/PEP: Family Empowerment Scholarship Equal Opportunity, with a subtype of Personalized Education Program

Instructions for Direct Pay

A few quick notes about Direct Pay through Step Up For Students:

  • You will need to reserve funds for Cheyne Ranch in your student’s EMA account (see this 2-minute SUFS video: Youtube video). 

  • While Step Up For Students typically approves payment for everything we offer, you are responsible for payment if they don't pay us for any reason.

  • Our program category is "tuition," and tuition is $400 per 8-week session for each class (whether there are planned or unexpected absences). 2 classes each week is $800 and 3 classes each week is $1,200, etc. 

Disclaimer: We're offering direct pay as an added service to the families. As a parent of children utilizing the scholarship, I understand the benefits of avoiding upfront costs and the reimbursement process. However, this option involves an administrative cost for us. We may need to re-evaluate it if it becomes too costly or if SUFS payments are significantly delayed.

I am so excited and I appreciate you all growing and learning with us. 

Instructions for Reimbursement through EMA

Activities at Cheyne Ranch are currently categorized for reimbursement as “Sports Lessons”

  • Category > Instructional Material

    • Type > Physical Education Instruction/Membership/Fees

      • Description > Sports Lessons

Educational Benefit: (words to inspire you)

Outdoor animal care activities boost physical health (cardiovascular fitness, strength, coordination) through tasks like mucking stalls and leading animals. Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination are also developed through handling, grooming, and cleaning.

Submitting for reimbursement:

TWO documents are needed to submit for a reimbursement:

  • Invoice: Description of services and request for payment

  • Receipt: Proof of payment

Our Cheyne Ranch invoices, coupled with a receipt of payment, meet ALL the FES requirements necessary for reimbursement

Currently, invoices are prepared and emailed out 3 times each year:

  • August (for TWO 8-week sessions in the FALL)

  • January (for TWO 8-week sessions in the SPRING)

  • May (for ONE 8-week session in the SUMMER)

When a payment is made and applied to your account, you will automatically receive a receipt to your email address on file.

**If you do not receive an email receipt, please reach out and we will email you another copy.

Here are some important things to note:

Cheyne Ranch has 9+ years experience with the FES-UA:

  • Sally reads and studies as much as possible regarding the FES, including the:

  • Approximately 50 of our weekly students are successfully receiving reimbursements through the Family Empowerment Scholarship.

    • Our Cheyne Ranch invoices, coupled with a receipt of payment, meet ALL the FES requirements necessary for reimbursement

  • Sally’s own child has been utilizing the scholarship since 2015 (when it was called Gardiner), so Sally is both a parent and a reimbursable / direct pay provider for this scholarship.

    • All that to say, I know the pain! And I want to make things easy on parents and I am doing the best I can to make this happen.

  • Sally proudly participates in a parent & provider advocacy group which helps to inform and hold accountable the Florida law makers as well as the SUFS executives to the original intent and important purpose of this educational choice which became a law in 2014.

    • It is part of the Cheyne Ranch mission to advocate for accessible services for ALL individuals, and the FES is an important avenue for this accessibility.

Why we are not considered “Equine Therapy” in the Family Empowerment Scholarship

  • Cheyne Ranch is NOT (for Family Empowerment purposes) considered Equine Therapy

    • Both the 2022 Florida law and the SUFS handbook state only PATH, Intl Accredited Centers qualify as Equine Therapy.

      • This wording, which defines Equine Therapy to only places designated as PATH, Intl Accredited Centers is an unfortunate and highly restrictive choice of wording in the Florida law

      • Sally is working with an advocacy group to modify this wording to include PATH, Intl certified Individuals, as well as PATH, Intl Accredited Centers

What are the facilitator’s credentials? Sally Ann Cheyne is both the owner of Cheyne Ranch and the primary facilitator of PALS. She has 20 years experience as a software instructor and curriculum writer. She also homeschools her own 4 children, currently all teenagers.

Both Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) are recognized and growing fields. There are a few respected certifying organizations which offer a rigorous certification processes. Sally currently holds affiliations with the following organizations: