Step Up For Students is an initiative of the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship Program, an educational plan designed to help low-income families in Florida obtain the best education for their children.
Under this program, corporations that owe Florida corporate income tax, insurance premium tax, alcohol beverage excise tax, direct pay sales and use tax, or oil and gas severance tax can redirect a portion of their tax obligation to non-profit organizations that award K-12 scholarships to students qualifying for the federal government's free or reduced lunch program.
Parents can use these scholarships to send their children to a public or private school that provides the learning environment that best meets the child's particular needs. The corporation, in turn, will receive a 100 percent tax credit for every dollar it donates. Participating corporations redirect funds they must already pay to the state, enabling them to help low-income children achieve greater educational excellence at no cost to the corporation. As a result, the program is paving the way for an educated workforce that will greatly contribute to the betterment of our communities.
This year, the Step Up For Students program is giving more than 38,000 kids a second chance to succeed in the classroom, and we have the success stories to prove that the scholarships are a step up for those least likely to afford any kind of school choice option.
Participating companies do not have to be domiciled in Florida; the only requirement is that they have tax liability with the state. Dollars can fund scholarships for children in a specific region(s) or across the state.
Participation is simple and easy. For more information and to participate, contact Kerri Vaughan at (866) 344-9553.