Every Student Deserves A Choice
Education isn’t one-size-fits all. Just as every student is different, every classroom is different, and every school is different. Students learn best in an academic environment that is best suited to their learning needs.
Step Up For Students supports Florida students and families in building a stronger future through personalized education. Our scholarships open doors with private school tuition assistance and help covering the cost of traveling to a different public school.
Step Up For Students supports Florida students and families in building a stronger future through personalized education. Our scholarships open doors with private school tuition assistance and help covering the cost of traveling to a different public school.
Opportunities available through:
The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC)
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)
Scholarships for Private Schools
Scholarship awards can be used to pay for tuition and fees at an eligible private school and are worth an average of $7,700, depending on where the student lives and their grade level.
Scholarships for Public School Transportation
K-12 students have the option of attending a public school that is a better fit than the one they’ve been assigned.
*To qualify for the transportation option, law enforcement families must meet the income eligibility criteria. Click here to learn about the transportation option.
Law Enforcement Families are Eligible Regardless of Household Income!
For more information, download our handbooks.
Who Is Eligible?
The private school scholarships are available to dependent children of a law enforcement officer, regardless of household income.
Families interested in the transportation scholarship through the FTC or FES-EO program must qualify based on household income. An example of who may qualify is a family of four with an income of up to $111,000.
The private school tuition assistance is available, regardless of income, to:
Families interested in the transportation scholarship through the FTC or FES-EO program must qualify based on household income. An example of who may qualify is a family of four with an income of up to $111,000.
The private school tuition assistance is available, regardless of income, to:
- Dependent children of law enforcement officers
- Dependent children of an active member of the United States Armed Forces, including reservists. Includes members of the Army, Navy, Airforce, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Space Force. Click here to learn more about military family eligibility.
Age Eligibility:
- Students entering kindergarten must be 5 on or before Sept. 1.
- Students entering first grade must be 6 on or before Sept. 1.
How Does It Work?
Apply for the scholarship through Step Up For Students. If approved, choose a private school scholarship or a transportation scholarship.
Scholarships vary by county and grade but are worth an average of $7,700. Once awarded a scholarship, work with your selected participating private school to enroll your student through Step Up For Students. You will be notified when it is time to log into your account to approve scholarship funds to be issued directly to your school electronically.
Select a participating private school ›View Scholarship Award Amounts ›
Transportation scholarships are worth $750 and help with the cost of attending a public school other than the one to which a student has been assigned.
Once awarded a scholarship, please follow the instructions on your award letter to notify us that you will be using the transportation scholarship option. Familes will be required to provide a report card or progress report quarterly to confirm the student’s attendance and receive payment that is sent directly to families.
Note: The application is the same for both programs and applications are processed in the order they are received. Renewal students have first priority. Scholarships can be transferred to an eligible school if the student moves within state or chooses to move to a new school.
Apply Now
- Copy of the law enforcement officer's most recent official ID, including badge number
Stepping Up To Success
“Without Step Up I don’t know if I would be able to reach the goals I’m about to reach.”
Nanya
Step Up Scholarship Recipient
“I’ve always felt education was No. 1 over everything, I always wanted to prove it to myself.”
Zoe Elverillo
Step Up Scholarship Recipient
“Private school is different. The classes are smaller…There’s not one teacher that doesn’t care (here).”
Carlos Escobar
Step Up Scholarship Recipient
Video Library
How to create your FTC/FES-EO account
How to complete an FTC/FES-EO application
Document checklist for FTC/FES-EO applications