In the 2017-18 school year, Step Up awarded more than 100,000 scholarships to lower-income students through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Additionally, Step Up helps administers the Gardiner Scholarship Program and provides scholarships to nearly 10,000 students with certain special needs.
In 2018, the Florida Legislature created the Hope Scholarship Program. This program was established to provide the parent of a public-school student who was subjected to violence, harassment, and or bullying the opportunity to transfer the student to another public school or request a scholarship for the student to enroll in and attend an eligible private school.
Beginning on October 1, 2018, the purchaser of a motor vehicle is given a dollar-for-dollar sales tax credit against any tax imposed by the state and collected by a dealer or private tag agent, up to $105, for a contribution to Step Up For Students. The funds invested provide K-12 Hope scholarships for children negatively impacted by bullying, violence and/or harassment.
This innovative scholarship opportunity allows students who are systemically bullied to refocus on their education by providing financial assistance to attend a Florida Department of Education-approved private school or for transportation to an out-of-district public school.
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Beginning on October 1, 2018, automobile purchasers will be authorized to receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, up to $105, on the sales tax imposed by the state as a result of the purchase of a motor vehicle in Florida in return for a designation to the Hope Scholarship Program, administered by Step Up For Students. The amount of the contribution to Step Up For Students will be deducted from the total sales tax liability. The purchasers may not designate a specific student as the beneficiary of the contribution.
For questions regarding payment issues to the Hope Scholarship Program, please call: 904-323-0930.
For questions about the Hope Scholarship Program or cause marketing opportunities, please email the Hope Team: HopePartnership@StepUpForStudents.org
In March 2018, the Florida Legislature enacted the Hope Scholarship Program to provide the parent of a public school student who was subjected to battery, harassment, hazing, bullying, kidnapping, physical attack, robbery, sexual offenses, threat or intimidation, or fighting at school the opportunity to transfer that student to another public school or to request a scholarship for the student to enroll in and attend an eligible private school.
The Hope Scholarship is funded by sales tax credits on the purchase of a motor vehicle. Beginning on October 1, 2018, the purchaser of a motor vehicle will be given a 100% sales tax credit, up to $105, for a contribution to Step Up For Students to support the Hope Scholarship Program. At the time of registration and collection of sales tax, the tax collector will provide the purchaser with a Contribution Election Form, collect the contribution, remit the contribution to Step Up and report the contributions to the Florida Department of Revenue.
For questions regarding payment issues to the Hope Scholarship Program, please call: 904-323-0930.
For questions about the Hope Scholarship Program or cause marketing opportunities, please email the Hope Team: HopePartnership@StepUpForStudents.org