Q: Who can apply for these scholarships?
A: According to our application guidelines at SUFS, the following students may apply outside regular deadlines:

• Dependents of active-duty U.S. Armed Forces (Military Families)
• Elèv ki nan sistèm adopsyon oswa ki nan swen deyò lakay yo
• Students who have experienced bullying or harassment in public school and have a completed Hope Scholarship Notification Form (previously the Hope Scholarship)

Q: What does this mean for foster/out-of-home care and Military Family students?
A: Dependents of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces and students in foster or out-of-home care applying for a scholarship outside of application season will need to call Step Up For Students at (877) 735-7837 to have an application opened for their student. The following documents are requested for the applicable deadline exclusions:

• Dependents of an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces: Leave and Earnings Statement and Permanent Change of Station orders
• Foster child: A copy of the Foster Placement documentation, or other similar legal documentation

Q: What does this mean for bullied or harassed students?
A: Students who experience bullying in a public school must submit a completed Hope Scholarship Notification Form to Step Up For Students in EMA and can apply without calling to have an application opened for them.

Q: What are the eligible scholarship categories for Deadline Exceptions?
A: These three exceptions apply primarily to these scholarship categories:

• Private School Scholarships (FTC) for all three categories
• Personalized Education Program (PEP) Scholarships (for Military Families and foster/out-of-home care categories only) Note: Exceptions from the application deadline do not exclude students from the PEP scholarship program capacity.

Q: What deadlines should I be aware of?
A: Parents and guardians of students who qualify for a deadline exception for 2025-26 must:

• Apply no later than April 15, 2026
• Submit required application documentation no later than April 22, 2026
• Accept award and enroll no later than May 15, 2026
• Enrollment:
  • Private School (FTC) students must be awarded and enrolled in an EPS in EMA
  • PEP students must be awarded and SLP submitted (along with test scores for renewal students)

Q: What are the funding guidelines?
A: For a student with a deadline exception to be eligible for scholarship payment, the following requirements must be met:

• Private School (FTC): The student is awarded and enrolled by March 17, 2026, for Q3 and Q4 funding, and May 15, 2026, for Q4 only funding.
• PEP: Enrollment will be satisfied when the student's current year Student Learning Plan (SLP) and prior year test scores, if applicable, are submitted in EMA.