Special Education Bridge Loans

The following information and documents are required to apply for a Special Education Bridge Loan:

• Application Form: Please go to the bottom of this page or click here to access the online application form for a Special Education Bridge Loan.
• Copy of your fully-executed stipulation of settlement, hearing decision, or pendency agreement/order. HFLS cannot provide a Special Education Bridge Loan without one of these documents.
• Copies of government-issued photo IDs that include signatures and serve as proof of address for the applicant and their spouse or partner, if relevant (e.g. a driver’s license). If the driver’s license does not include the applicant’s current address, HFLS may require other documentation as proof of residency.

You will be able to upload the documents above to your online application. Once HFLS receives your completed application, Ivy Ip will be in touch with any questions and to move the process forward.

Please contact Ivy at iip@HFLS.org or (212) 706-0041 with any questions.

Once HFLS has reviewed and approved your completed application, you will receive two documents via email:

1. A Parent Letter, to be signed by you (and your spouse, if you are married).
2. A Promissory Note, to be signed by you (and your spouse, if you are married).

Please sign and return these documents to Ivy.

In addition to the above, your attorney and the school your child attends will each receive a document for signature:

1. Your attorney will receive an Attorney Letter, confirming the details of your case and loan, including the repayment of your loan directly from the proceeds released by the DOE once those proceeds are received by your attorney.
2. The school that your child attends will receive a School Acknowledgement Letter, explaining the purpose of the Special Education Bridge Loan.

Once the signed loan closing paperwork above is received, HFLS will disburse the loan. If the loan is paying for tuition owed, a check will be mailed directly to the school. In cases in which the HFLS loan is reimbursing you for tuition funds you have already laid out rather than paying the school for tuition you owe, a check will be mailed to you or the funds will be deposited into your checking account.

When the DOE or school district sends reimbursement or payment as per the terms of the stipulation of settlement, hearing decision, or pendency agreement/order, the funds will be sent directly to your attorney’s escrow account. Your attorney will then send the funds directly to HFLS, in accordance with the signed Attorney Letter and the Parent Letter, to repay your loan.