Navigating Private School Education in Florida with Step Up For Students Scholarships

Step Up For Students empowers Florida students and families to build a stronger future through tailored educational opportunities. Through the Step Up For Students Scholarship Programs and extended services, families can pursue the most appropriate learning options for their children. These scholarships offer tuition assistance and support a range of educational needs through education savings accounts (ESA).

Understanding Step Up For Students Scholarship Programs

Step Up For Students proudly offers Private School Scholarships that cover tuition and fees at eligible private schools. Any remaining funds can be used to support a child’s education through expenses like registration, books, testing and other approved fees.

Types of Scholarships Available

Several scholarship programs are administered by Step Up For Students, each catering to different needs:

Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO): This scholarship is available through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO). It provides tuition assistance for eligible students to attend participating private schools.
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA): This scholarship caters to students aged 3 through grade 12 (or age 22, whichever comes first) with specific diagnoses. It covers private school tuition, therapy, tutoring, and more. The Unique Abilities Scholarships vary based on a student’s grade level, county of residence, and level of need, averaging around $10,000.
Personalized Education Program (PEP): This scholarship supports K-12 home education students who are not enrolled in public school or a Florida Home Education Program. It covers instructional material, curriculum, and more.
Hope Scholarship: Created to support families whose K-12 students have experienced a bullying incident, this scholarship allows students to participate in the Private School Scholarship Program. Families may apply at any time throughout the year following an eligible incident.

Eligibility Criteria

Scholarships are available to all students who are residents of Florida and eligible to enroll in a K-12 public school, regardless of household income.

Scholarships are awarded in the following order of priority:

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Students who are renewing their Private School Scholarship (FTC or FES-EO).
Students whose household income does not exceed 185% of the federal poverty level or who are in foster care or out-of-home care.
Students whose household income is between 185% and 400% of the federal poverty level.

Key Considerations for Military Families

If you are an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and have been given permanent change of station orders to move to Florida, you will be eligible for the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO), Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) and the PEP Scholarship before you make your move.

Application Process and Important Dates

To ensure a child’s path continues without interruption, Private School & Unique Abilities Scholarship Families should submit their renewal application. All renewal and new applications for PEP Scholarship Families must be submitted by a specific date.

Here’s what each status in EMA means for a student’s application:

Draft: Not yet submitted. Complete all sections, upload documents, and submit.
Submitted: Received but not yet reviewed. Check back soon.
Pending: Under review.

If you don’t have standard documents, you may submit a letter explaining your situation.

Using Scholarship Funds

If approved for a scholarship through Step Up For Students, the scholarship can be used to attend an eligible private school, and any remaining funds can be accessed through an education savings account to pay for:

Instructional material
Curriculum
Tuition for full-time or part-time education at an eligible postsecondary educational institution or approved apprenticeship program
Fees for nationally standardized norm-referenced tests and other assessments
Contracted services provided by a public school or school district
Tuition as a private pay student at Florida Virtual School
Fees for a “Choice Navigator,” which is an optional service provider intended to help guide parents through the myriad of choices that will become available to them through their ESA.
Cameras are eligible for reimbursement under all scholarships (PEP, Unique Abilities, and Private School) as equipment for an elective course within the Instructional Material category.

Finding Participating Private Schools

Step Up For Students partners with numerous private schools throughout Florida. To find a participating school that meets your child's needs, you can utilize the resources available on the Step Up For Students website.

Considerations for Students with Unique Abilities

It's important to note that while private schools accommodate students with disabilities in accordance with federal and local law, they may not necessarily provide the same types of accommodations or related services that a public school would under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA does not apply to private schools.

Additional Information and Resources

EMA Account Assistance: If you're unable to access the phone number linked to your EMA account or you're not receiving your MFA code, you may request an MFA reset. Note that only the Primary Parent listed on the account can request this reset.
Invoicing in EMA: Resources are available to guide providers on how to invoice in EMA for their services.
Multiple Scholarships: Florida law allows only one active scholarship application per student at a time. However, if you have one child receiving the Family Empowerment for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), you can apply for another type of scholarship for your other children.

Success Stories

Step Up For Students has empowered numerous students to achieve their educational goals.

Yonas: From Ethiopia to No. 1 in his high school class to UF with the help of a Private School Scholarship.
Valentina: Progressed significantly with the help of the Family Empowerment Scholarship.
Samantha: Improved reading grades and developed a love of books with the help of Florida’s Reading Scholarship.
Nick: Experienced a positive change in his life through the Hope Scholarship.

Contributing to the Future of Education

There are many ways to invest in the future of Florida's educational landscape. You can earn dollar-for-dollar tax credits while funding K-12 students' future through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

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