Reading Scholarships in Florida

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New Worlds Reading Scholarship Accounts

Is your public school child having trouble reading? If so, the New Worlds Reading Scholarship can help.

Do you have a New Worlds Reading Scholarship account (previously the Reading Scholarship)? 

Click the button to login and access your account.

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2021-22 School Year:

We are no longer accepting applications for the New Worlds Reading Scholarship for the 2021-22 school year.

Important! Does your student have funds remaining in their New Worlds Reading Scholarship Account from a previous school year? Step Up For Students emailed you a unique link. You must use that unique link to create your online account. After you create your account, you can use the “Apply Now/Login” button below to login to the scholarship portal. You will use the scholarship portal to manage your funds and/or apply for a scholarship.

2022-23 School Year:

We are not yet accepting applications for the New Worlds Reading Scholarship Accounts for the 2022-23 school year. Please click here to sign up for our interest list and we will let you know when it’s time to apply.

Who is Eligible?

Eligibility requirements for the New Worlds Reading Scholarship Accounts (formerly Reading Scholarship Accounts) for the 2022-23 school year are:

  • Students enrolled in a Florida public school in grades K-5 for the 2022-23 school year with a substantial reading deficiency per s. 1008.25(5)(a)
  • Students who scored below a Level 3 on the statewide, standardized English Language Arts (“ELA”) assessment in the prior school year
  • Funding priority will be given to students indicated as English Language Learners who are enrolled in a program or receiving services specifically designed to meet their instructional needs

While completing the application, you may be asked to provide the following document, but it is not required to complete the application: 2020-21 ELA score report.

About New Worlds Reading Scholarship Accounts

In 2018, Florida became the first state to offer an education savings account program for students enrolled in public schools. The New Worlds Reading Scholarship, administered by Step Up For Students, was created to help public school students in grades K-5 who struggle with reading. 

Effective July 1, 2022, the program will continue as the New Worlds Reading Scholarship Accounts. The program offers parents/guardians access to education savings accounts, worth $500 each, to pay for tuition and fees related to part-time tutoring, summer and after-school literacy programs, instructional materials (including desktop/laptop computers and tablets and curriculum related to reading or literacy.

FAQ

The scholarships are worth $500 each and can be used for reimbursement for the following:

  • Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring provided by a person who holds a valid Florida educator’s certificate, a baccalaureate or graduate degree in the subject, an adjunct teaching certificate, or has demonstrated mastery of the subject area knowledge.
  • Fees for summer education programs designed to improve reading or literacy skills.
  • Fees for after-school education programs designed to improve reading or literacy skills.
  • Instructional materials, including desktop and laptop computers and tablets and curriculum related to reading or literacy.
Please refer to the New Worlds Reading Scholarship Accounts Handbook for more information.

Please click here to sign up for our New Worlds Reading Scholarship Accounts interest list and we will let you know when it’s time to apply.

Please click here for the 2022-23 New Worlds Reading Scholarship Accounts Handbook.

Step Up For Students will send you updates to the email address you used when you applied. You may also login to the scholarship portal to view the status of your application at any time.

Funded families may login to the scholarship portal at any time to view their student’s New Worlds Reading Scholarship Account balance.

Please review the Reading Scholarship Handbook  for details on approved uses of Reading Scholarship funds.

Reading Scholarship families may choose to pay out-of-pocket for approved goods and services. Families may then login to the scholarship portal to submit a reimbursement request. Read the Reading Scholarship Handbook for more details about the reimbursement process.

To avoid upfront costs, Reading Scholarship Families may choose one of Step Up For Student’s direct-pay options. Our direct-pay options include part-time tutors, after-school and summer reading programs, and shopping for preapproved goods through MyScholarShop. Visit the Reading Scholarship Handbook to learn more.

Please click here to find part-time tutoring services.


Please click here to find summer and after-school Reading programs that have been preapproved for the Reading Scholarship.

Please click here for additional information about the Reading Scholarship for schools and providers.

2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR

We are not yet accepting applications for the Reading Scholarship for the 2022-23 school year. Click here to sign up for our interest list and we will let you know when it’s time to apply.

For help regarding scholarship applications, please call the Contact Center at 877-735-7837.

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION (CH-14609) AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1(800)435-7352 OR ON THEIR WEBSITE FDACS.GOV. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. SUFS SOLICITS 100 PERCENT OF ITS CONTRIBUTIONS AND DOES NOT CONTRACT PROFESSIONAL SOLICITORS.

© 2021. Step Up For Students, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), EIN: 59-3649371, P.O. Box 54429, Jacksonville, FL 32245-4367